The New York Times reports on a new exhibition at San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum that brings together over 120 works spanning 2,000 years of Asian art. The show juxtaposes ancient sculptures of Hindu and Buddhist deities with contemporary pieces featuring glitter, neon, and pop culture references, creating a dialogue between spiritual tradition and modern exuberance. Highlights include a gilded bronze Buddha from Thailand, a contemporary Indian painting of a goddess adorned with sequins, and a Japanese scroll depicting a scene of both joy and sorrow.
This exhibition matters because it challenges the conventional Western framing of Asian art as purely serene or meditative, instead emphasizing its capacity for emotional extremes—from ecstatic celebration to profound grief. By mixing historical artifacts with living artists’ works, the museum positions itself as a site for rethinking how Asian art is presented and understood in a global context. The show also reflects a broader trend among museums to break down rigid chronological and cultural boundaries, offering audiences a more dynamic and inclusive art experience.