Interesting Works from Beyond the European Tradition

Tips This PowerPoint will provide you with some options for Art Beyond the European Tradition, which you have to use on one of the long essays in the free response section of the test. Pick at least one sculpture, one painting, and one building/structure and study it thoroughly. Pay attention to the terms and the religious aspects. These may be random MC questions on the test. These were chosen because they represent a variety of topics/prompts (depictions of the human form, holy spaces, religious ritual objects, etc.)

Tips A variety of notes are provided. Read them but you may want to look them up further online. If you blank out on the long essay for Art Beyond the European Tradition (ABET), then you can fall back on Egyptian, Ancient Near Eastern, or Islamic examples. Remember, you need to choose examples that fit well with the long essay prompt. In other words, do not pick a human body to represent a holy place.

Nkisi Nkonde

This is a wooden statue from the Congo of Africa. It represents a hunter and has special powers. His arm is raised and at one time held a spear. His stance is wide and his body is stocky. People view him as a strong, protective figure. He is a power figure with a stylized large head and short, stocky frame. His stomach has a opening into which special powders can be placed by Congo priests/diviners, who know how to arouse the Nkisi Nkonde IMPORTANT: People in the Congo insert nails and blades into the Nkisi Nkonde statues (many villages have one) to stir his spirit into action. He has the ability to protect the village and specific individuals from evil spirits or enemy villages. Every time someone inserts a nail or blade, he is trying to awaken

Shiva as Nataraja aka Dancing Shiva

Shiva as Nataraja aka Shiva as Lord of the Dance This is NOT a female! This is the Hindu god Shiva. He is associated with destruction and rebuilding the universe. Destruction is not to be feared because all things die and are reborn in a new state in Hinduism (reincarnation). Destruction is actually beneficial and can lead to a better state. Shiva has four arms to demonstrate his divine attributes. Yet, he is anthropomorphic (has human shape). He dances to the beat of a drum as he destroys negative aspects such as ignorance. There is a dwarf under his foot symbolizing ignorance. In the upper hand to our left, he holds the drum. In the upper hand to our right, he holds a flame symbolizing destruction.

Shiva as Lord of the Dance continued Shiva has long hair that swirls as he dances. His lower hands are held in a MUDRA, a symbolic hand gesture in Hindu and Buddhist art. Shiva’s mudra is a “fear-not” gesture. He wants Hindus not to be afraid, because he is destroying ignorance. A flaming nimbus (circle or oval) surrounds his body resembling the light of glory, which is similar to the mandorla that surrounded Jesus in Romanesque and Gothic sculptures. This is NOT a statue! IT IS SHIVA to a Hindu. It is alive. People carry it around (note the two openings at the base for Shiva’s transport. Believers clean it, dress it, and give it food offerings (prasada) before eating their meals. Shiva consumes the “essence” of the food.

Seated Buddha Preaching his First Sermon (Sarnath, India)

Buddha was once an Indian prince named Siddhartha. He gave up his princedom and decided to become spiritual and understand how to understand human suffering. He travelled with ascetics and wandered around meditating and fasting but realized this wasn’t the way. He realized that moderation or the Middle Way was the secret to ending suffering.

Seated Buddha Preaching his First Sermon (Sarnath, India) Buddha sits in a yogic posture meditating. His eyes are downturned showing that he is meditating. His hands are in a MUDRA symbolize the Wheel of the Law which he created. He said that 1) life is suffering, 2) human suffering was caused by desire, 3) the way to extinguish suffering was to eliminate your desires, 4) you could do this by following the Eightfold Path, a set of eight rules he recommended and symbolized by an eight-spoked wheel. When Siddhartha was able to realize this and resist all temptations, he reached NIRVANA or Enlightenment. He became known as the Buddha or “Awakened One.” He is preaching his first sermon to people here.

Seated Buddha Preaching his First Sermon (Sarnath, India) Buddha has an urna or cranial bump (look at the bump on top of his head) symbolizing his “awakened” state. He understands all. He has big, drooping earlobes symbolizing that he used to be a prince. He used to wear large earrings because of his wealth. His body is broad shouldered and smooth without much anatomical detail conforming to the Indian ideal male body. The wheel of the law symbolizing the Eightfold Path is in the predella section below, standing upright in the middle. Students have come to hear Buddha’s first sermon (teaching). Two deer flank the wheel at the base symbolizing Deer Park in Sarnath, India, where Buddha gave his first sermon.

Shaded Dwellings Among Streams and Mountains by Dong Qichang ca. 1610

Chinese landscape paintings were important and reflect the religion of Daoism, which stresses harmony with nature. Did you ever see the ying-yang symbol? This is the symbol for Daoism. It refers to the balance between opposites. Think of the hard mountains and soft, flowing water as symbolizing that balance. The two Chinese characters (symbols/letters) for landscapes literally translate to “mountains and water.” The Chinese believe that the mountains have spiritual powers because they reach up to the heavens. Therefore, looking at mountains is good for the soul. Chinese landscape paintings were the highest form of art in China. It was closely connected with CALLIGRAPHY and used the same types of brushstrokes.

Chinese landscapes are not of real places. They are imagined and idealized landscapes. The Chinese expression woyou means to “wander while lying down.” In other words, daydreaming of a perfect place. Chinese landscapes were painted ink on paper with limited use of watercolor paint. The colors are restrained and subtle in order to harmonize better with the ink lines. The paintings were NOT framed or glazed over like European oil paintings. Artists mounted them on silk backing and created paintings as hanging scrolls, hand scrolls, and fans. Chinese landscapes reflect the Daoist belief that peace is based on a harmony of opposites, which is observable in nature.

Mayan Mural at Bonampak

The Mayans lived in Guatemala and southern Mexico. They were a series of city-states. They shared a common language and believed in many gods. Yet, they often went to war against each other. Prisoners were usually sacrificed to please the Mayan gods. The Mayan gods needed blood to be pleased. Mayans believed that the gods gave them corn for their sustenance. They believed they were created by the gods from maize (corn flour) and blood. Therefore, they needed to return blood to the gods in order to be blessed with good harvests.

Mayan Mural at Bonampak In this scene, prisoners who are naked except for loin clothes (shown in the middle levels and on their knees) are presented to the Mayan king. The Mayan king stands in the center and is rendered in hierarchical scale. He has green quetzal feather in his head dress and vest and holds a large scepter/rod of power. A prisoner has already been sacrificed at his feet. The members of the king’s royal court flank him on either side including advisors, priests, and spouse. Warrior stand at attention with weapons along the bottom.

Great Stupa at Sanchi, India

Great Stupa at Sanchi A stupa is a Buddhist reliquary mound. The Great Stupa at Sanchi, India is 120 feet across and 54 feet tall. It is the most famous example. It is not literally a mound like the stupa was traditionally. It is a rounded brick building constructed to house relics (holy objects such as a robe, etc.) of the Buddha. It is enclosed by a wall to symbolize it is a sacred area. Buddhists want to visit this site to be close to Buddha’s relics. Buddha was not a god but rather a very holy and enlightened man. Buddhists circumambulate (walk around) the Great Stupa and pray.

Foguang Si Pagoda, China

Foguang Si Pagoda (inside view) Each level is independent and represents a mandala, a Buddhist drawing symbolizing the universe. Going to the different levels can represent different incarnations of the Buddha. Shakyamuni Buddhists believe that the Buddha was reincarnated several times to help future believers reach Enlightenment.

Foguang Si Pagoda, China Buddhism spread to China and became the main religion of China. The Foguang Si Pagoda is equivalent to the Great Stupa at Sanchi. It houses a large statue of the Buddha, and houses some of his relics. The Foguang Si Pagoda is the oldest, extant wooden pagoda in the world. The eaves (overhanging sections) are characteristic of East Asian architecture. The pagoda was the Chinese adaptation to the Indian stupa. The Foguang Si Pagoda has eight sides symbolizing the Eightfold Path for living to reach nirvana or enlightenment.

Foguang Si Pagoda, China Buddhism spread to China and became the main religion of China. The Foguang Si Pagoda is equivalent to the Great Stupa at Sanchi. It houses a large statue of the Buddha, and houses some of his relics. The Foguang Si Pagoda is the oldest, extant wooden pagoda in the world. The eaves (overhanging sections) are characteristic of East Asian architecture. The pagoda was the Chinese adaptation to the Indian stupa. The Foguang Si Pagoda has eight sides symbolizing the Eightfold Path for living to reach nirvana or enlightenment.

Grand Shrine of Ise, Japan This is the HONDEN of the Grand Shrine of Ise. This is where the Shinto gods or kami exist. Food and other ritual offerings are left to please the kami.

Grand Shrine of Ise, Japan Shinto is the native religion of Japan and is polytheistic. There are an infinite number of kami or spirits. Gods are the highest kami and the honden hall is dedicated a god/gods. There is a statue of the god inside the honden. See the next slides to see the other parts of the Grand Shrine and other Shinto shrines.

Shinto Shrines Torii – Entrance to the shrine precinct

Chozuya – Wash Basin Washing hands and rinsing mouth before saying prayers.

Shrines Torii and purification font Porch with a drum (used in rituals) Haiden – hall of worship where people pray and dances are offered Heiden – hall of offerings Honden – enclosed room with richly ornamented door, much higher than the rest of the shrine and symbolic dwelling place of the kami

Diagram of the Grand Shrine of Ise Japan Find the torii, ritual cleaning pool, and honden hall. The honden is similar to how Greek and Roman temples held statues of their gods.