Sometimes called
"devil dances," the traditional Lamaist Buddhist
dance ceremonies of Mongolia require spectacular masks
and accoutrements to drive away evil spirits and conjure
good luck. This exhibition of more than sixty objects,
never before displayed in the U.S., includes splendid
masks, costumes, headdresses, ritual aprons and ceremonial
implements from the 19th and early 20th centuries. These
rare objects and the exhibition's themes attest to the
survival, and revival, of a culture that had nearly been
obliterated by Communist dictate in the 1930s. Dancing
Demons: Ceremonial Masks of Mongolia
is on view July 12 through September 17 at the Asia Society
at Midtown, 502 Park Avenue (at 59th Street), New York
City. (Asia Society at Midtown is the Society's interim
location while its uptown headquarters is undergoing renovations
to be completed in Fall 2001).
The masks, many
depicting fearsome deities or fantastic animal heads,
are lavishly decorated with silk, tassels, gilt bronze
ornaments and semi-precious stones. Among the treasures
is a mask in the shape of a deer head, made of papier-mâché,
covered with velvet and sporting deer antlers. It, like
the other masks on view, is used in the Tsam ritual dance, a
fascinating ceremonial dance of northern Asia that mixes
magic with serious and comic components, performed by
Lamaist monks around the New Year to destroy all the evil
that has accrued during the past year. Tsam ceremonies disappeared from
Mongolia during the Communist Russian regime in the 1930s,
however they are once again being practiced in present-day
independent Mongolia. Since the breakup of the Soviet
Union in the early 1990s, there has been an explosion
of cultural vitality in Mongolia, embracing such age-old
traditions as well as new creations.
Vishakha N.
Desai, Senior Vice President of the Asia Society and Director
of Galleries and Cultural Programs, said, "We are
very excited to bring this exhibition to New York in time
to join in the city's celebration of Mongolian culture.
The events provide an opportunity for our audiences to
appreciate how alive and contemporary a place Mongolia
is, not just the birthplace of Jingghis Kahn and the realm
of Atilla the Hun. The Asia Society's exhibition makes
the special contribution of showing how powerful Mongolian
religious experience is, seen through its magnificent
works of art."
Dancing Demons:
Ceremonial Masks of Mongolia showcases the most exquisite
works of art made in Mongolia during the centuries following
the conversion to Buddhism of the Mongolian leader Altan
Kahn in the 16th century. Altan identified with the illustrious
Khubilai Kahn, even believing himself to be a reincarnation
of the great Mongol emperor. Like Khubilai, he adopted
a Tibetan version of Buddhism, which had far-reaching
consequences for Mongolia and ushered in a long period
of cultural
blossoming. Lamaist Buddhism, which in Mongolia absorbed
many of the culture's integral beliefs in shamanism, spurred
the construction of great monasteries, the creation of
exquisite religious artifacts and the institution of some
of the most spectacular, yet little known, festivals in
Asia.
The physical landscape
of Mongolia - the vast expanses of the steppe - encouraged
not only a nomadic lifestyle, but also, lacking settled
communities, a profound and intense communion both with
nature and the spirit world. The constant traffic of lamas
between the monasteries of Tibet, China and Mongolia resulted
in a cultural and artistic exchange on an unprecedented
scale and the introduction of new rituals and ceremonies.
These traditions became a central focus of Mongolian religious
and cultural life, involving hundreds of masked performers
and attracting audiences of thousands.
In addition to
the dramatic masks on view, a highlight of the exhibition
is a complete shaman's outfit. Paintings and rare 19th-century
photographs of the ceremonies, dances and plays in which
these masks and accessories were used are included in
the exhibition and place the objects in a cultural and
historical context. An early film of the elaborate Tsam festival and a set
of seventy-two carved figurines representing the cast
of characters appearing in the festival further enliven
the objects. Photographs of the traditional Mongol ger,
the domed, circular tent used by the nomads of the steppes,
are also included to give the audience a fuller experience
of the culture. Didactic materials also aid the viewer
in understanding the nature of shamanism, its relationship
with Mongolian Lamaism, and the role of religion in the
lives of Mongolians. The exhibition emphasizes that although
there is a connection with the art of Tibet and China,
the work from Mongolia is unique in its artistry. It also
stresses that the traditions that were essentially destroyed
are being revived in the present day and tells a story
of the resiliency and cultural survival of Mongolia.
The objects
on view are drawn from the National Museum and the great
monasteries of Mongolia. They are among the objects hidden
by vigilant monks during the 1930s when the thriving religious
tradition was effectively wiped out. In the present day,
elderly monks are once again teaching young monks the
traditional rituals, and monasteries are being rebuilt
and ritual and ceremonies revived. The exhibition and
programs organized by the Asia Society are testimony to
the remarkable regeneration of the Mongolian cultural
heritage through these rituals and ceremonies.
Dancing Demons
is curated by Jan Fontein, noted Asian art scholar and
former Director of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston,
who will present a lecture for Asia Society members and
guests on Tuesday, July 11 at 6:00 P.M., held at The Lighthouse
International, 111 East 59th Street.
Concurrent with
the exhibition, the Asia Society will present a major
concert entitled "Altai Hangai: Music of Mongolia"
on Thursday, July 20 at 8:00 P.M. at Florence Gould Hall,
French Institute/Alliance Française. This concert
marks the U.S. debut of one of the most exciting music
groups in Mongolia, the four-member Altai Hangai, who
perform a range of traditional music including the repertoire
of the tatlaga or horse head fiddle (an example of which
is also in the Dancing
Demons
exhibition), and folk tunes that feature overtone singing.
The music is inspired by the life of nomads, a love of
nature, the seasons, and travelling the steppes.
A panel discussion
on "Shamans Dancing on the Edge of the Millennium:
Perspectives from Mongolia, Korea and Malaysia" will
compare and contrast contemporary expressions of shaman
practice in these countries and will cover such diverse
topics as gods, monsters, and the I.M.F., to marketing
shaman rituals to urban audiences. This program will be
held at Tinker Auditorium, French Institute/Alliance Française,
22 East 60 Street, on Tuesday, August 1, 6:30 P.M. Additionally,
also at Tinker Auditorium, the Asia Society will screen
Genghis Blues, which was recently nominated for an Academy
Award for Best Documentary Feature, on Wednesday, August
9, 7:00 P.M.
Dancing Demons:
Ceremonial Masks of Mongolia is made possible by the Trust
for Mutual Understanding, Frank and Lisina Hoch, John
Guth, The Cynthia Hazen Polsky and Leon B. Polsky Fund,
Kathryn and Ernest H. Frank, and Frederick W. Richmond.
Support for the
Asia Society's Cultural Programs is provided by the Friends
of Asian Arts, Wallace-Reader's Digest Funds, The Starr
Foundation, The Armand G. Erpf Fund, The Arthur Ross Foundation,
the Harold J. and Ruth Newman Philanthropic Fund, and
the New York State Council on the Arts.
Also on view at
Asia Society at Midtown is Journey
to Enlightenment: Photographs of Tibet and Bhutan by Matthieu
Ricard
(July 12-September 17). This small selection of photographs
offers an insider's glimpse into the world of Tibetan
Buddhism and the color and pageantry surrounding the spiritual
path.
The Asia Society
is America's leading institution dedicated to fostering
understanding of Asia and communication between Americans
and the peoples of Asia and the Pacific. A nonprofit,
nonpartisan educational institution, the Asia Society
presents a wide range of programs including major art
exhibitions, performances, media programs, international
conferences and lectures, and initiatives to improve elementary
and secondary education about Asia. The Asia Society is
headquartered in New York City, with regional centers
in Washington, D.C., Houston, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and
Melbourne, Australia, and representative offices in San
Francisco, Seattle, Manila and Shanghai. For more information,
contact the Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue, New York, NY
10021. (212) 288-6400. (www.asiasociety.org). Note:
While the Asia Society headquarters building is undergoing
renovations (to be completed Fall 2001), visit us at our
interim location, Asia Society at Midtown, 502 Park Avenue
(at 59th Street),
New York City.
