HAR: Introduction to Himalayan Art
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Definition: Himalayan 'Style' Art
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- Definition of Himalayan Art
- About Himalayan Art Resources
Himalayan 'Style' Art is art that is indigenous to the Himalayas, predominantly Tibet, Nepal and Kashmir, and the areas under the cultural sway of these cultures. Himalayan 'style' art is primarily concerned with religious subjects and is recognizable through the use of composition, symbols and motifs. Individual works of art are commonly created in sets forming much larger works of art. (Gene Smith, Ben Brinkley, Jeff Watt. New York, 2001).
Geographic Region of Himalayan 'Style' Art: The Himalayas include the Tibetan Plateau, Nepal, Kashmir, Bhutan and the northern most regions of India and Pakistan. The surrounding geographic regions where Himalayan style art is found are China, Mongolia, southern Siberia, Tuva, Buryatia and northern Burma, all of which are to the north and east of the Tibetan Plateau. Himalayan art is especially found throughout China. In the very center of China's capital city, Beijing, is Beihai a Himalayan style stupa and reliquary mound. Also, along the Pacific Ocean at locations such as Hangzhou south of Shanghai, Himalayan art from the Yuan period can be found in abundance.
Religion: Himalayan style art, characterized by Tibetan, Nepalese and Kashmiri religious culture, is generally sacred or religious in nature, drawn from the religions of Buddhism, Hinduism, Bon and various Tribal groups.
Artistic Features: The artistic style is best recognized through painting composition, accompanied by symbols and motifs unique to the individual Himalayan regions, as well as from artistic and cultural exchange with other great neighboring civilizations. Painting and sculpture sets are a unique feature of Himalayan art; many art objects are created as a much larger whole in effect a very large work of art with many individual parts.
Mission
The mission of the Himalayan Art Resources website (HAR) is to create a comprehensive education and research database and virtual museum of Himalayan art:
First, the website exhibits images of art from museum, university and private collections throughout the world.
Second, the website documents all Himalayan art objects that are known through past or present collections or publications.
Third, the database identifies and catalogues all images (comprised of painting, sculpture, ritual objects, murals, etc.). When an object image is not available for lack of permission from the copyright holder, the database uses a place card image. Book cover images are used for publications and generic place cards for collections.
Fourth, all images on the Himalayan Art Resources Inc. website belong to the individual institutions, museums, private collections and individuals that have loaned their images to the site.
Submitting Images
Museums, institutions and private collectors of Himalayan art are invited, and encouraged, to submit images for cataloging and display.
To submit an image (or collection) for consideration, please send a digitized image by e-mail. Additionally, you must submit a written statement attesting to your ownership of either the object itself or the rights to the image being submitted.
Please note that the Himalayan Art Resources website does not archive, professionally or otherwise, any digital images and does not own any images. All images cataloged on the site are the property of the lending institution, museum or private collection. (See the Images on HAR Page).
Submitting Art
In furtherance of its mission to promote education, research, and appreciation of Himalayan style art, Himalayan Art Resources (HAR) accepts donations of museum quality pieces of Himalayan-style artworks into its collection on a case by case basis. Potential donations must be of a high aesthetic quality, good condition, greater than 100 years of age, and of use in the furtherance of education, research, and appreciation.
HAR will endeavour to make the collection available for loan to museum exhibitions and for publication in scholarly articles. The goal of the collection is to assemble a diverse group of objects that support the HAR mission.
Copyright Information
Materials and Content: Text and graphic images made available on the Himalayan Art Resources website, created to provide an educational resource to the public, are the property of the Himalayan Art Resources Inc., a not-for-profit 501 C 3 registered charitable corporation, unless otherwise noted, and are protected by copyright. The reproduction, redistribution and/or exploitation of any materials and/or content (data, text, images, marks or logos) for personal or commercial gain is not permitted. Provided the source is cited, personal, educational and non-commercial use (as defined by fair use in US copyright law) is permitted.
All parties using, printing or downloading the materials and/or content of the Himalayan Art Resources website in any manner, represent and warrant (1) that they understand and will observe the limitations on the use of the materials and/or content; and (2) that they will not infringe or violate the rights of any other party.
Please note that the Himalayan Art Resources website does not archive, professionally or otherwise, any digital images and does not own any images. All images cataloged on the site are the property of the lending institution, museum or private collection.
Sign-up for Notification of Changes
Sign-up to be notified by e-mail of changes and new additions regularly uploaded to the site. Comments and suggestions are also appreciated: info@himalayanart.org
