Metropolitan Museum

Improved Essays
For my field project I decided to go to Metropolitan Museum of Art. Personally I love Asian Art wing for its calm atmosphere. Every time I visit it, I discover new intriguing objects. I was always interested in art and symbolism, and my aim for this project was to find an artwork that would not be just beautiful eye-catching piece, but an object that enclose some deeper meaning. The idea was rather vague, however I was positive about its outcome, I knew I would discover something interesting.
I usually go to Met early in the morning when there is not a lot of visitors and most galleries are empty. This creates unique experience of almost intimate communication with art objects. When I reached South Asia galleries, I found myself surrounded by many beautiful statues of gods and goddesses from Hindu pantheon. There were huge sculptures carved from stone and miniature metal statuettes. Every artwork was so special in its execution, texture and details. The question was how
…show more content…
The object is made of copper, 27 inches high, and 22 inches in diameter, and it is dated to 11th century and belongs to Chola period. It has very smooth surface and decorated with carvings. The artwork depicts god Shiva who is known to be intricate, multidimensional deity. At first glance, he carries quite opposite characteristics. On one side he symbolizes ultimate asceticism, he is a master yogi, who overcomes himself and now possess an incredible wisdom. His zealous austerity and deep meditation create inner heat (tapas), which also makes him tremendously powerful being. However on other side, through his asceticism which leads to withdrawal from sexual relationship, he is able to hold his seed, and it makes Shiva charged with erotic energy (193). This polarity also correspond with his three major aspects - creator, preserver, and destroyer of the universe. Shiva becomes the deity that penetrates every aspect of possible

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    The Broad My museum trip can be summed up with the word serendipitous. When I arrived at the Broad Museum in Downtown Los Angeles, I saw the line to enter the museum go down two blocks. I walked into the lobby, intending to ask a museum attendant on the estimated wait time in line. After hearing the line was going to be a three hour wait, we continued our conversation and started bonding over Yayoi Kusama’s work, especially her Infinity Mirrored Room.…

    • 942 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Grammy Museum

    • 1265 Words
    • 6 Pages

    While heading to Grammy Museum I was able to arrive before it open, I waited for about 15 minutes outside. While waiting I was able to walk around and see the Grammy Awards that have been won throughout the years. They were displayed on the sidewalk heading towards the Museum. I was able to identity some bands and artists that I knew such as; Ray Charles, Norah Jones as well as Green Day. I was truly surprised to have seen these names displayed.…

    • 1265 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    "Ai Weiwei: Without Fear or Favor." My artistic talent, in comparison to past classmates and relatives, has always been overshadowed so subsequently I had little desire to develop whatever talents I did possess. Notwithstanding, I’ve always wanted to be able to sculpt, paint, and draw with the same ease and beauty those past friends and teachers had shown. Moreover, I’ve always enjoyed museums and art galleries or anything that enhances my overall knowledge in various cultures and their histories. Furthermore, I love to travel and I feel that an environmental submersion into a culture’s art and history can provide an increased appreciation for their diversity altogether.…

    • 902 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Mobile Museum Of Art

    • 1041 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Recently I got to visit the mobile museum of art located in Mobile, Alabama. The visit was quite interesting and I got to experience the allure of detailed pieces of art that are so masterfully crafted, painted or drawn. The trip to the Mobile Museum of Art is one that I cannot forget. The Museum is a host permanent and temporary visiting collection of art. The collection available in the Museum spans the periods from the classical antiquity to the present day art.…

    • 1041 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Essay On Jain Shrine

    • 1150 Words
    • 5 Pages

    This piece of art that I have researched, will be writing about, and comparing to other pieces of art is the Jain Shrine. The country of origin that these shrines come from is India. Unfortunately we do not know of the artist that created any of the Jain Shrine’s in particular that are still preserved today. It is suggested that more than likely a wealthy individual from northwest India would have had this small shrine created for his own private Jainism religion purposes. Jainism is a religion of India which is older and was firmly established at the same time of the origin of Buddhism (Jain).…

    • 1150 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    LACMA Museum Report

    • 529 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Johnny Lee 9-10-16 Period 3 Museum Project I chose LACMA, or the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, for my museum. It is located on Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036. It is on Museum Row, next to the La Brea Tar Pits. It started in1965 and currently is now the largest art museum in the west side of the United States. I learned many things about paintings, sculptures, writing, and much more.…

    • 529 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Burke Museum

    • 836 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Earth is comprised of a myriad of cultures and identities, both directly and indirectly influential to each other. Because of these connections, it is vital to study or at least garner basic knowledge of other cultures. A key factor to this cultural integration is the establishment of museums for ease of access to the general public. Museums are highly based on visuals and it is very important for museums to present themselves well. The SAM and the Burke museum utilizes their displays very differently, but both focus on the expression of different cultures and do so successfully; however, both can learn from each other and present a more holistic display.…

    • 836 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Minneapolis Institute of Arts Museum Visit Minneapolis Institute of Arts is a fine art museum that has at least 3 000 different works of art from different parts of the world. The museum started in 1883, initially; it was, identified as Minneapolis Institute of Arts before changing to its current name. MIA is, situated on an eight acres piece of land at Whitter in Minnesota on a campus. The museum is government funded institute and does not charge an entrance fee for patrons. Researchers and scholars can photograph the different works of art without any form of restrictions as long as their purpose for the photographs academic-oriented.…

    • 1657 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The most fascinating thing about art is the difference and diversity between works of art. The drastic uniqueness of arts between periods is something that is interesting to look at because one gets to see how much changes can be made due to cultural influences and time. After visiting the Met and seeing the works of art in person, I have chosen the Statute of Dionysus Leaning On A Female Figure and the Standing Buddha Offering Protection to explore in depth. The Standing Buddha Offering Protection is an Indian sculpture made during the late 5th century. It is only 85.5cm tall and it is constructed out of red sandstone.…

    • 1449 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    ART APPRECIATION 1301 On Wednesday December 30, I went to the Dallas Museum of Art. I entered the museum through an entrance on the South side where the art piece Ave by artist Mark Di Suvero is located. Upon entering the museum, I saw an up going staircase on the right side.…

    • 528 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Metropolitan Museum Report

    • 1012 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Surprisingly enough (if I did not read the caption on what this was), I literally would have thought that this was some type of ceremonial urn of sorts. It is said to be from the Praenestine era between 350 to 325 B.C. It is the Museum's largest engraved cista, it is in a cylinder shape with three figures on the top and it is exquisitely decorated. The detail is captivating. I sat for about fifteen to twenty minutes trying to decipher the artistry and imagine how long it took to engrave something so beautiful thousands of years ago.…

    • 1012 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    MASS Moca Museum Report

    • 710 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Using Colors to Express Voice On November 7th, 2015 my first year seminar class took a field trip to the MASS MoCA Museum of Contemporary Art in Massachusetts. We traveled approximately an hour away by bus to visit the museum. MASS MoCA is known for its outstanding modern art and has an attendance of 120,000 people per year. Most of the museum was inside but there were some outside exhibits. The museum was made up of three floors and had a gallery for kids, and a cafe where a live band performed.…

    • 710 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    When I first came to New York City and learned that the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) presents more than-2000 education/public programs, I was shocked to the various and wide range of the programs that the Met offers. I cannot help but so jealous of American (especially New Yorker) kids and teenagers, as they have a myriad of opportunities to reach out to the world of art with those programs. Since I am already in my mid 20s, it was too late for me to restart my life and got a lot of accesses to the art world through the museum’s teen programs. I wish I could have same chances in my childhood, but I have not, and it is how I became interested in supporting the MetTeens programs and events, as it would be the only opportunity that I can experience…

    • 216 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Charioteer Of Delphi

    • 355 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The sculpture was set up at this location to congratulate the victory of Polyzalus in the chariot race of 478 BC. This sculpture struck me for a couple of different reasons. The sculptures height stands tall at 1.8 meters. That is almost as tall as I am! It has very human like features…

    • 355 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    2), Shiva typifies those impeccable physical qualities as he is solidified at the time of his move inside the grandiose hover of flame that is the synchronous and persistent creation and destruction of the universe. The in the round sculpture cultivates the ring of flame that encompasses the figure as the exemplified universe of mass, time, and space, whose perpetual cycle of obliteration and recovery moves in order to the beat of Shiva's drum and the mood of his means. In his upper right hand he holds the damaru, the drum whose thumps syncopate the demonstration of creation and the progression of time. His lower right hand with his palm raised and confronting the viewer is lifted in the motion of the abhaya mudra, which says to the supplicant, (Is this a quote from the museum panel?) "Be not apprehensive, for the individuals who take after the way of exemplary nature will have my approval."…

    • 1024 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays

Related Topics