Four mandalas into the Himalayas
160 works in Gallery S101 at the Southern Museum. Begin with a red painting made by Newar artists in Tibet, then follow the makers across the mountains.
Buddy Lien · Taibao, Chiayi
Four mandalas from the Vajravali series
Newar painters
Four mandalas from the Vajravali series, 15th century, by Newar painters working in Tibet. Loan from the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; image published by the National Palace Museum. Editorial use.
Editorial useView source ↗
Follow the red painting into four nested mandalas, then follow its makers across valleys and courts.
Start with the red painting. Each of its four circles contains another palace, more gates, and ranks of figures small enough to reward a second look. Newar painters from the Kathmandu Valley made these four Vajravali mandalas in Tibet in the 15th century. Now on loan from the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, they give a visitor in Chiayi somewhere particular to begin.
Curator 鍾子寅 turns the exhibition's centre of attention from the Qing court towards the Himalayas. Its 160 works span the 6th–19th centuries and places including northeast India, Kashmir, Nepal, Tibet, Mongolia and the Qing court. Follow what moved with the makers: a painted palace, a metalworking technique, a way of arranging a figure. You can look before you master the chronology.
The exhibition runs in two rotations through April 6, 2027. Himalayan Month performances and workshops end earlier, on November 8. Leave half a day for the galleries and some unallocated time for the lake outside. Check both bus journeys before leaving HSR Chiayi.
Crossing the Himalayas exhibition poster
Crossing the Himalayas poster, published by the National Palace Museum. Editorial use.
Editorial useView source ↗
Get there
Public transport
At HSR Chiayi exit 2, use the BRT platform for 7212 towards Puzi and get off at the museum's 1st Hall shuttle stop, then continue to the galleries. A taxi route is about 5 km / 12 minutes, plus waiting and the walk inside the grounds. Route 106 was suspended on September 1.
Sources
- Museum: exhibition and Himalayan Month ↗ — Works, exhibition dates, gallery and museum-published images
- Museum: October 17–18 programme ↗ — Saturday performance and numbered entry; separate Sunday activities
- Opening hours ↗ — Gallery and grounds have separate hours
- Tickets and concessions ↗ — NT$150 general admission and October 17 free entry
- Public transport to the museum ↗ — HSR exit 2, bus 7212 and suspended route 106