Buddhist gods are often artistically depicted as fierce and ferocious. But despite their scary appearances, the "Demonic Divine in Himalayan Art" exhibit at the Phoenix Art Museum shows that they are friends, not foes.
"Demonic Divine" features more than 50 works of art from the 13th through 19th centuries, ranging from paintings on cloth to bronze sculptures and carved masks. Many of the gods in this artwork look like monsters, but Buddhists believed they could help humans attain spiritual and emotional liberation.
The exhibit includes images of gods Draglha Gonpo (Lord of the Rock Plateau who protects the eastern part of Tibet), Kula Khari (a mountain god) and Dorje Legpa (the Dangerous Protector). The brightly colored and sometimes grotesque display is different than classic art from China and Japan, which usually contains soft colors and beautiful gods.
The exhibit is showing at the Phoenix Art Museum (1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix) through December 17. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. General admission is $8 with a student ID, or free on Tuesdays from 3 to 9 p.m. Visit phxart.org for more information.
Reach the reporter at: megan.m.salisbury@asu.edu.
