23.10.2010 - 01.05.2011
This is the first time ever that the little known region of the Western Himalayas is presented in an exhibition. This exhibit is possible due to the cooperative efforts of Historisches und Völkerkundemuseum St. Gallen, the Linden-Museum Stuttgart and the Völkerkundemuseum Herrnhut.
Peter van Ham has travelled throughout the Western Himalayas for two decades and is quite knowledgeable of the historical perspective of the cultural diversity of this area. His documentary photos and films highlight breathtaking landscapes, unique rituals, isolated monasteries, arts, and festivities that showcase the native people's lifestyle. Historical pictures which were never shown before and which are part of the oldest photographic documentation of the Himalayas wait for visitors to be admired. Moreover, rare objects of Kashmiri art will complete the presentation of this region.
Western Himalayas
The Western Himalayas with its sandy deserts and subtropical forests also impress us with snow capped mountains of 7000 metres high. The cultural diversity has made this isolated region a melting pot of cultures, which has been preserved for thousands of years.
In earlier times, important trading routes crossed through the Western Himalayas which served also to spread philosophic ideas, religion and art. Hinduism and Buddhism encountered and mixed with old spiritism and fertility cults. Consequently, the Western Himalayas contain a Tibetan cultural heritage, which was lost in the Tibetan monasteries of the past.
Indian Tibet - Tibetan India
Today, the region of the Western Himalayas is part of the Indian States of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. August Hermann Francke, one of the first European travellers already called it "Indian Tibet" to emphasize the Indian influence on early Tibetan Buddhism which he recognized there.
From the 7th and 8th century on, Indian wise men and hallows came to Tibet to bring Buddhist philosophy to the people. During this same period Tibetan scholars, such as Rinchen Zangpo, went to India to learn the Indian Buddhist doctrine. Indian Sanskrit texts were translated into Tibetan but they were lost in India with the invasion of the Muslims. This exchange of cultures enabled the development of this unique form of beautiful Buddhist art, as displayed by Indian artists who decorated Tibetan monasteries in the Western Himalayas.
Nowadays this region can be called "Tibetan India" all the more because of thousands of Tibetan refugees who found shelter for themselves and their religious tradition as well.
The Adventurers' destination
The exhibit focuses attention to three expeditions which also give structure to the display. In 1909 the German archeologist August Hermann Francke travelled on a 2000 km route through the Western Himalayas. He and his photographer Babu Pindi Lal were the first ones who documented the bizarre landscape and the fascinating culture in word and vision.
After his adventurous escape to Tibet, Heinrich Harrer, Austrian alpinist ("Seven Years in Tibet"), reached this region in 1944. In the 1970s he returned to Ladakh and Zanskar to record Tibetan culture.
The political situation made it difficult for travellers to enter the Western Himalayas. At the end of the 20th century foreigners were allowed to visit parts of this region again. Peter van Ham, writer and photographer from Frankfurt, took this opportunity to follow the expeditions of August Hermann Francke and Heinrich Harrer. Within the last twenty years he explored the mountain deserts of Kinnaur, Spiti, Lahaul, Rupshu, Nubra, Zanskar and Ladakh.
The journey - visiting an exhibition (in) another way
Compared to the mountain climbers, visitors to this exhibit will get to know the Western Himalayas safely and comfortably. Starting at Shimla, former summer residence of British colonial rulers, the visitor sets off towards Kinnaur, Spiti, Rupshu, Zanskar and Ladakh, passing fascinating photographs and objects that represent a thousand years of the local culture and religion. Finally the tour will end with a walk-in mandala from the Tabo monastery to harmonize the inner and outer journey the visitor has just experienced.
Everyday life
The visitor will see Western Himalayan textiles and jewelry: Typical hats (Thepang), woollen capes from Kinnaur, a nobleman's brocade robe and hat from Spiti. Hats, a mantle, a slingshot and several other articles of daily use represent the material culture of the nomadic people of Rupshu. The Perak is a typic headdress of Ladakh, which is made up of a thick stripe of red cloth with silver, coral and turquoise jewelry on it. It is worn by women to show their wealth.
The flower headdress of the Minaro is another characteristic which even appeared on the German public TV programme "aspekte".
Hinduism
Western Himalayan religions will be presented to visitors during a "spiritual journey" through the exhibition. On display will be masks from Kinnaur (Mohra). These masks represent Hindu deities in their very own beauty. In addition old, pre-buddhist bronzes will be displayed which do not have any significant features to classify them as either Hindu or Buddhist.
Belief in ghosts
The "Buchen" are travelling monks who perform the magical ritual of stone breaking (Phobar Dochog) to exorcise demons. It is a composition of ritual, theatre and spectacle when the demon is banished and forced into a stone which is smashed on the chest of an assistant in trance. The "ghost trap" is another instrument to catch ghosts and to appease them.
Buddhism
The Thangka paintings are quite characteristic of Tibetan Buddhism. Some of them were made in Ladakh especially for this exhibition. The Buddhist sculptures with their special style of Kashmiri art have a unique beauty, influenced by style elements of India, central Asia and the Pakistani Gandhara art with its graeco-buddhist elements. The Linden-Museum Stuttgart is proud to display objects of international high-profile such as the Bodhisattva Padmapani (Kashmir, 10th century).
The monastery of Tabo
Monk hats of different Tibetan Buddhist schools represent the Western Himalayan monasteries, so do ritual objects as prayer wheels, vajras, bells, daggers and masks. The walk-in mandala is the exhibition's highlight. It simulates a room of the Tabo monastery in Spiti which contains prominent art treasures from the 11th century. Visitors can feel the magic atmosphere in this room, created by a multi-media-installation.
The exhibition includes loan collections from:
Peter van Ham, Historisches und Völkerkundemuseum St. Gallen, Völkerkundemuseum Herrnhut, Museum der Kulturen Basel, Museum Rietberg Zürich, Völkerkundemuseum der Universität Zürich, Messner Mountain Museum and the Kern Institute of the Leiden University.
Curator of the exhibition is the asian expert Susanne Faller M.A.. Guest curator Peter van Ham supported her.
Sponsors:
Honorarkonsulat der Republik Indien
Lapp Group
Helmut Nanz Stiftung
DAV Summit Club
SSB - Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG
Ströer
gallery of the exhibition
Peter van Ham has travelled throughout the Western Himalayas for two decades and is quite knowledgeable of the historical perspective of the cultural diversity of this area. His documentary photos and films highlight breathtaking landscapes, unique rituals, isolated monasteries, arts, and festivities that showcase the native people's lifestyle. Historical pictures which were never shown before and which are part of the oldest photographic documentation of the Himalayas wait for visitors to be admired. Moreover, rare objects of Kashmiri art will complete the presentation of this region.
Western Himalayas
The Western Himalayas with its sandy deserts and subtropical forests also impress us with snow capped mountains of 7000 metres high. The cultural diversity has made this isolated region a melting pot of cultures, which has been preserved for thousands of years.
In earlier times, important trading routes crossed through the Western Himalayas which served also to spread philosophic ideas, religion and art. Hinduism and Buddhism encountered and mixed with old spiritism and fertility cults. Consequently, the Western Himalayas contain a Tibetan cultural heritage, which was lost in the Tibetan monasteries of the past.
Indian Tibet - Tibetan India
Today, the region of the Western Himalayas is part of the Indian States of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. August Hermann Francke, one of the first European travellers already called it "Indian Tibet" to emphasize the Indian influence on early Tibetan Buddhism which he recognized there.
From the 7th and 8th century on, Indian wise men and hallows came to Tibet to bring Buddhist philosophy to the people. During this same period Tibetan scholars, such as Rinchen Zangpo, went to India to learn the Indian Buddhist doctrine. Indian Sanskrit texts were translated into Tibetan but they were lost in India with the invasion of the Muslims. This exchange of cultures enabled the development of this unique form of beautiful Buddhist art, as displayed by Indian artists who decorated Tibetan monasteries in the Western Himalayas.
Nowadays this region can be called "Tibetan India" all the more because of thousands of Tibetan refugees who found shelter for themselves and their religious tradition as well.
The Adventurers' destination
The exhibit focuses attention to three expeditions which also give structure to the display. In 1909 the German archeologist August Hermann Francke travelled on a 2000 km route through the Western Himalayas. He and his photographer Babu Pindi Lal were the first ones who documented the bizarre landscape and the fascinating culture in word and vision.
After his adventurous escape to Tibet, Heinrich Harrer, Austrian alpinist ("Seven Years in Tibet"), reached this region in 1944. In the 1970s he returned to Ladakh and Zanskar to record Tibetan culture.
The political situation made it difficult for travellers to enter the Western Himalayas. At the end of the 20th century foreigners were allowed to visit parts of this region again. Peter van Ham, writer and photographer from Frankfurt, took this opportunity to follow the expeditions of August Hermann Francke and Heinrich Harrer. Within the last twenty years he explored the mountain deserts of Kinnaur, Spiti, Lahaul, Rupshu, Nubra, Zanskar and Ladakh.
The journey - visiting an exhibition (in) another way
Compared to the mountain climbers, visitors to this exhibit will get to know the Western Himalayas safely and comfortably. Starting at Shimla, former summer residence of British colonial rulers, the visitor sets off towards Kinnaur, Spiti, Rupshu, Zanskar and Ladakh, passing fascinating photographs and objects that represent a thousand years of the local culture and religion. Finally the tour will end with a walk-in mandala from the Tabo monastery to harmonize the inner and outer journey the visitor has just experienced.
Everyday life
The visitor will see Western Himalayan textiles and jewelry: Typical hats (Thepang), woollen capes from Kinnaur, a nobleman's brocade robe and hat from Spiti. Hats, a mantle, a slingshot and several other articles of daily use represent the material culture of the nomadic people of Rupshu. The Perak is a typic headdress of Ladakh, which is made up of a thick stripe of red cloth with silver, coral and turquoise jewelry on it. It is worn by women to show their wealth.
The flower headdress of the Minaro is another characteristic which even appeared on the German public TV programme "aspekte".
Hinduism
Western Himalayan religions will be presented to visitors during a "spiritual journey" through the exhibition. On display will be masks from Kinnaur (Mohra). These masks represent Hindu deities in their very own beauty. In addition old, pre-buddhist bronzes will be displayed which do not have any significant features to classify them as either Hindu or Buddhist.
Belief in ghosts
The "Buchen" are travelling monks who perform the magical ritual of stone breaking (Phobar Dochog) to exorcise demons. It is a composition of ritual, theatre and spectacle when the demon is banished and forced into a stone which is smashed on the chest of an assistant in trance. The "ghost trap" is another instrument to catch ghosts and to appease them.
Buddhism
The Thangka paintings are quite characteristic of Tibetan Buddhism. Some of them were made in Ladakh especially for this exhibition. The Buddhist sculptures with their special style of Kashmiri art have a unique beauty, influenced by style elements of India, central Asia and the Pakistani Gandhara art with its graeco-buddhist elements. The Linden-Museum Stuttgart is proud to display objects of international high-profile such as the Bodhisattva Padmapani (Kashmir, 10th century).
The monastery of Tabo
Monk hats of different Tibetan Buddhist schools represent the Western Himalayan monasteries, so do ritual objects as prayer wheels, vajras, bells, daggers and masks. The walk-in mandala is the exhibition's highlight. It simulates a room of the Tabo monastery in Spiti which contains prominent art treasures from the 11th century. Visitors can feel the magic atmosphere in this room, created by a multi-media-installation.
The exhibition includes loan collections from:
Peter van Ham, Historisches und Völkerkundemuseum St. Gallen, Völkerkundemuseum Herrnhut, Museum der Kulturen Basel, Museum Rietberg Zürich, Völkerkundemuseum der Universität Zürich, Messner Mountain Museum and the Kern Institute of the Leiden University.
Curator of the exhibition is the asian expert Susanne Faller M.A.. Guest curator Peter van Ham supported her.
Sponsors:
Honorarkonsulat der Republik Indien
Lapp Group
Helmut Nanz Stiftung
DAV Summit Club
SSB - Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG
Ströer
gallery of the exhibition