U.C. Berkeley History of Art

Histart N190A

THE ART OF TIBET (3 units)

The course is structured to provide a thematic and chronological survey of Tibetan art from the earliest examples in the seventh century through the twentieth century with the primary focus on the Tibetan Buddhist art. We will look at Tibetan temples and monasteries mostly in the Central and Western Tibet, learn about the architecture and will discuss, where possible, how the images were placed and used in the original context. Tibetan art works demonstrate remarkable diversity of styles, composition, technique and subject matter. The course will introduce the scholarship on the styles in Tibetan art, yet will encourage thinking critically about the methodology applied in the study of Tibetan art. The course will explore the notion of image in the Buddhist context where the image is revered as a live abode of a deity. We will visit the Berkeley Art Museum and the Hearst Museum to see and discuss selected objects from Theos Bernard-Eleanor Murray collection. Since our primary focus is Buddhist art and architecture, the course will also introduce critically important Buddhist terms and concepts, basic iconography of main deities and protagonists.
No pre-requisites are required.