Gallery Preview: South Asian
Before your visit to VMFA, introduce your students to the galleries. Let them explore the space and imagine what they can find there!
Take a Look Inside
VMFA is home to one of America’s premier collections of Greater Indian and Himalayan art. Click on the image for a virtual view of VMFA’s South Asian Galleries which feature Indian and Himalayan art. Here you can get an idea of the kinds of objects on display in the museum. When you come to the museum you will be visiting this gallery and exploring just a few of these objects.
As you take a look around consider:
- What kinds of objects do you see?
- How are they displayed?
- If you could visit in person, what might you be interested in looking at first?
- Do any of these objects remind you of topics you are studying? How?
Take a Closer Look: Is This Stuff Real?
Yes! There are examples of sculpture, paintings, architecture, textiles, and decorative art made by Indian, Nepalese, and Tibetan artists. By caring for and studying these objects in museums like VMFA, we are able to connect with artists from the diverse cultures of this region, consider how they understood the world around them, and explore how they visually shared stories and ideas with one another.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be a scholar or an art specialist to take a closer look and begin exploring. All you need is a little bit of time and some curiosity!
Why don’t you give it a try!
Use these simple steps to take a closer look at this Indian sculpture:
- Take a brief look at this object and write down your first impression by finishing this sentence:
This sculpture is… (you can write anything— a single word, a full thought, even a question).
- Now look back at the image. Keep looking for ten seconds. Write a new sentence.
Now I think this sculpture is… (elaborate on your first idea).
- Repeat step two. This time finish the following sentence:
I wonder…
- One more time! This time finish the following sentence:
The artist seems interested in…
Now you’ve looked at this object for at least 30 seconds. Look at your list of sentences. You’ve just connected with an artwork made over 850 years ago! Click on the image to find out more about this object. What are you still curious about? What other ideas do you have?
