Asia, a vast continent of ancient civilizations, diverse traditions, and artistic innovation spanning millennia.
On the morning of June 5, 1989, in the tense silence that followed one of the most violent political crackdowns of the late twentieth century, a solitary figure stepped into the wide expanse of Chang’an Avenue in Beijing to become known as tank man.
It began in the summer of 1970 when Nina Berberov and her daughter Eva visited a zoo in Baku and discovered a sickly lion cub, that Eva initially mistook for a dying dog.
Discovered in 1867 in the forests of northern India, he was described as a child who had lived for years among wolves, moving on all fours and communicating through growls rather than speech, just like the fictional character Mowgli.
Crafted in stucco during the late Kushan period around the 300s CE in the Gandhara region of present-day Afghanistan, this sculpture depicts the seated Buddha in a meditative pose, flanked by two attendants offering tributes.
This intriguing monster, originating from the late 500s CE during the Northern Qi dynasty, served as a supportive element in Buddhist cave temples, blending grotesque ferocity with protective symbolism to ward off evil spirits.
Crafted in the 18th century, the snuff bottle exemplifies the artistry and cross-cultural exchanges of the era, offering a glimpse into how portable luxury items like this were not only functional but also symbols of imperial curiosity and refinement.
This piece not only showcases masterful craftsmanship from the Qing dynasty but also invites us to explore the poet Li Taibo's life, blending themes of indulgence, fortune, and the fleeting nature of existence.
This votive stupa carved in steatite and densely inscribed with sacred text and imagery, it encapsulates key aspects of early Chinese Buddhism: devotion, cosmology, and the transmission of religious ideas along the Silk Road.
Carved from precious sandalwood during China's tumultuous Five Dynasties period in the 900s, this portable figure depicts Potala Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion (known as Avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit), who resides on the mythical Mount Potala.
Dating to the 1000s–1100s in Nepal, the sculpture captures her in a dynamic, ecstatic tantric pose symbolizing the transformative energy of Vajrayana Buddhism.
It depicts a mythical hybrid creature with two heads sharing a single body: one fierce, gaping lion head symbolizing power and aggression, and one calm bull head with horns representing fertility and strength.
The Bidri Basin, dating to around 1650 from Bidar in Karnataka, southwestern India, stands as a magnificent example of Bidriware, a renowned and distinctive metalcraft tradition from the Deccan region.