Resources

Asian Art Museum Art Speak interns discuss an Indonesian rod puppet in the museum’s collection.

Amandeep Jawa discusses the “Indian-ness” in his life.

Witness the revolutionary dance technique of Kathak yoga created by Pandit Chitresh Das. Kathak yoga combines innovation within tradition. The dancers (Antara Bhardwaj and Rachna Nivas) perform rhythmic composition through footwork and other movement while simultaneously reciting the underlying rhythmic structure (theka), singing the corresponding melody (lehara), and playing the tabla, harmonium or finger cymbals (manjira).

Yoga is traditionally associated with ancient schools of Hindu philosophy, in which one attains peace and salvation as the mind, body and spirit unite. Indian classical dance has its own journey that defines a unique path for individuals to attain liberation. The dancers Navia Natarajan (Bharatanatyam) and Niharika Mohanty (Odissi) will demonstrate the benefits of dance and yoga practice, bringing their individualistic styles together while incorporating yoga postures (asanas) and the extension of breath (pranayama).

Nalini Ghuman, Associate Professor at Mills College, discusses India in the English Musical Imagination.

Asian Art Museum Art Speak interns have a conversation with artist and animator Sanjay Patel.

Join ABC7 and the Asian Art Museum as we travel to Korea to explore the origins of the artworks in the exhibition, In Grand Style: Korean Art During the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), and how they continue to influence the food, travel, and lifestyle in Korea today.

This conversation celebrates the opening of the exhibition Out of Character: Decoding Chinese Calligraphy (on view at the Asian Art Museum from October 5, 2012–January 13, 2013). It explores the overlapping interests of internationally recognized contemporary artist Xu Bing and Jerry Yang, a passionate collector and practitioner of Chinese calligraphy. The museum’s director, Dr. Jay Xu, moderates the discussion, focusing on the new artwork by Xu Bing commissioned for the exhibition, along with masterpiece artworks from Jerry Yang’s collection.

Artist Hiroshi Sugimoto recently expanded his work to include traditional Japanese performing arts such as bunraku, or puppet theater, through film. Most recently, Sugimoto lent his vision to the arrangement, direction, and stage design of an adaptation of famed bunraku play The Love Suicide at Sonezaki (Sonezaki Shinju), a 1703 work by Chikamatsu Monzaemon. The program begins with a screening of this monumental project, followed by a conversation between the artist and Phantoms of Asia (on view at the Asian Art Museum from May 18–September 2, 2012) guest curator Mami Kataoka.

Join world renowned contemporary Chinese artist Zhang Huan in conversation with Asian Art Museum director Jay Xu. The San Francisco Arts Commission will present the world premiere of Zhang’s colossal work,Three Heads Six Arms (2008), which will be the focal point of San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza, nestled between City Hall and the Asian Art Museum. Standing over 26 feet tall and weighing almost 15 tons, the copper sculpture is the artist’s largest work to date. Zhang, who is based in Shanghai, is widely regarded as one of the most influential and provocative contemporary artists working today. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about this artists work against the backdrop of the Shanghai exhibition at the Asian Art Museum and the city-wide celebration of the 30th anniversary of the San Francisco Shanghai Sister City relationship. The program will be introduced by Luis R. Cancel, Director of Cultural Affairs for the San Francisco Arts Commission. Please note Mr. Zhang will speak in Chinese. English translation will be provided by Wang Xiaoyu.