An exhibition of Tibetan artefacts and relics is set to open on Saturday at the Macao Museum of Art (MAM). It’s being touted as the first overseas exhibition dedicated to the Buddhist art of the Panchen Lamas and the Qing Dynasty’s imperial court.
Golden Eminence: Treasures from the Palace Museum and the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery consists of “exquisite wares” crafted in the Qing imperial workshops and “priceless gifts” from the Mongolian and Tibetan regions of China, a statement from the Cultural Affairs Bureau said.
“Tibetan Buddhism boasts a long history and has played an important role in Chinese history since the 17th century,” the bureau said. It described the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery – which has traditionally been headed by Panchen Lamas – as one of the four great monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism’s Gelug lineage, as well as a thriving artistic and cultural centre.
[See more: The Macao Museum of Art has joined a GBA museum alliance]
A selection of gifts exchanged between the Qing emperors and Panchen Lamas – usually housed in Beijing’s Palace Museum or the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery – are displayed alongside each other in this meticulously curated collection.
A number of outreach events will also be held during the exhibition, which runs until 17 March. These include free Tibetan singing bowl performances scheduled for 17 and 30 December.
Meanwhile, an exhibition of oil paintings by Tibetan artists opened at Fisherman’s Wharf yesterday. The artwork, by 27 different artists, depicts the region’s unique scenery and culture, the Macau Post Daily reports.
