Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month at the Met

Donna Williams
May 23, 2014

Lost Kingdoms: Hindu-Buddhist Sculpture of Early Southeast Asia, Fifth to Eighth Century
Buddha (detail). Provenance unknown, central Thailand, first half of the 7th century. Sandstone; H. 67 3/8 in. National Museum, Bangkok. This object is on view in the exhibition Lost Kingdoms: Hindu-Buddhist Sculpture of Early Southeast Asia, 5th to 8th Century (through July 27, 2014).

«May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. This month affords us the opportunity to reflect on the various achievements and traditions of so many of our neighbors, friends, and family members. The Metropolitan's permanent collection and current exhibitions offer a calm and reflective setting for appreciating the art from this part of the world.»

A few suggestions:

Visit galleries 463 and 464 in our newly renovated Galleries for the Art of the Arab Lands, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and Later South Asia, and explore works from the Sultanate, Mughal, and Deccan courts in a chronological and regional sweep from about 1450 to the nineteenth century. Discover examples of Jain, Rajput, Pahari, and "Company" School painting from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century, as well as textiles and decorative arts showcasing the artistic variety of the Indian courts.

The Florence and Herbert Irving South Asian Galleries (galleries 234 through 243) may also be of interest. Highlights include works from Shunga India, Buddhist art of the Gandharan and Amaravati regions, the Kushan and Gupta dynasties of northern India, the Kashmiri kingdoms, Pala eastern India, Pandyan and Chola south India, and medieval northern India.

There is also a range of exceptional exhibitions to enjoy: Lost Kingdoms: Hindu-Buddhist Sculpture of Early Southeast Asia, 5th to 8th Century (through July 27, 2014), Out of Character: Decoding Chinese Calligraphy—Selections from the Collection of Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang (through August 17, 2014), The Flowering of Edo Period Painting: Japanese Masterworks from the Feinberg Collection (through September 7, 2014), and The Nelson Rockefeller Vision: In Pursuit of the Best in the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas (through October 5, 2014).

We wish you a very happy and healthy Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month!

Donna Williams

Donna Williams is the Museum's chief audience development officer.