PRESS RELEASE FEBRUARY 25, 2016

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1 MAR 5 JUN

PRESS RELEASE FEBRUARY 25, 2016 Press Contact Rachel Eggers Manager of Public Relations rachele@seattleartmuseum.org 206.654.

James and Lucy Lo March 5 June 12, 2016 SEATTLE, WA The Asian Art Museum presents Journey to Dunhuang: Buddhist Art of the Silk Road Caves, an exhibition featuring photographs, ancient manuscripts,

2 PRESS RELEASE FEBRUARY 25, 2016 Press Contact Rachel Eggers Manager of Public Relations JOURNEY TO DUNHUANG: BUDDHIST ART OF THE SILK ROAD CAVES OPENS AT ASIAN ART MUSEUM MAR 5 See the wonders of China s Dunhuang Caves a World Heritage site through the eyes of photojournalists James and Lucy Lo March 5 June 12, 2016 SEATTLE, WA The Asian Art Museum presents Journey to Dunhuang: Buddhist Art of the Silk Road Caves, an exhibition featuring photographs, ancient manuscripts, and artist renderings of the sacred temple caves of Dunhuang. Selected from the collection of photojournalists James and Lucy Lo, the works are a treasure trove of Buddhist art that reveal a long-lost world. Located at China s western frontier, the ancient city of Dunhuang lay at the convergence of the northern and southern routes of the Silk Road a crossroads of the civilizations of East Asia, Central Asia, and the Western world. From the late fourth century until the decline of the Silk Road in the fourteenth century, Dunhuang was a bustling desert oasis a center of trade and pilgrimage. The original melting pot of China, it was a gateway for new forms of art, culture, and religions. The nearly 500 caves found there tell an almost seamless chronological tale of their history, preserving the stories of religious devotion throughout various dynasties. During the height of World War II in 1943, James C. M. Lo ( ) and his wife, Lucy, arrived at Dunhuang by horse and donkey-drawn cart. Their ambitious 18-month project produced over 2500 black-and-white images that record the caves as they were in the mid-20th century, capturing many views of the interiors and exteriors that no longer exist today. They also collected fragments of ancient texts and drawings, which now form the largest group of Dunhuang manuscripts in the U.S. After moving to Taiwan in the 1950s, the couple invited a group of young artists to produce life-sized copies of the cave murals. These stunning renderings were painted freehand, or by projecting the Los black-and-white slides onto walls where paper was pasted. Color was then added based on the Los' memories and notes.

3 2 These remarkable works are testament to James and Lucy Lo s mission to preserve and transmit the visual splendors of this ancient site. It s such an intimate experience to see Dunhuang through their eyes; you can see the love they had for the site and for each other, says FOONG Ping, SAM s Foster Foundation Curator of Chinese Art. It opens a window onto a part of the world that s difficult to get to, and in some cases, already gone. Put it this way we re making it so you don t have to get there by donkey. The exhibition is organized in cooperation with the Princeton University Art Museum and the P.Y. and Kinmay W. Tang Center for East Asian Art. For the March 16 edition of SAM s Conversations with Curators, FOONG Ping will speak about the exhibition in relation to art, culture and religion on the Silk Road. This series is open only to SAM members. Also in March, the Gardner Center for Asian Art and Ideas presents two events related to the exhibition. On March 5, the opening day of Journey to Dunhuang, Mimi Gardner Gates (director emerita, Seattle Art Museum) presents Buddhist Caves at Dunhuang: Art, Spirituality and Cultural Heritage. The talk is part of the winter edition of the highly popular Saturday University series (Jan 30-Apr 9, 2016). While series tickets are no longer available, individual lecture tickets can be purchased at the door as available ($10, SAM members $5). Also of interest is Asia Talks: Buddhist Art Inspiration on March 17. This panel discussion features three thinkers who have adapted Buddhist concepts in their work: Charles Johnson, noted scholar and author of the National Book Awardwinning Middle Passage; artist, writer, and Friend of Dunhuang David Berger; and Dr. Ron Yeh, a physician who trains other physicians in using mindfulness for better patient outcomes. Image credits: Celestial musician with flute, , Chinese, Modern period, 1912 present, copy after wall painting, Western Wei dynasty, , Place made: Mogao Caves, Dunhuang, Gansu province, China, ink and color on paper, 27 1/4 x 19 1/8 in., James C. Lo Workshop, Gift of Lucy L. Lo, Parinirvana, Mogao Cave 158, Middle Tang dynasty ( ), Photograph taken in , The. Kasyapa, , Chinese, Modern period, 1912-present, copy after wall painting, High Tang Dynasty, , Place made: Mogao Caves, Dunhuang, Gansu province, China, ink and color on paper, 30 7/8 x 21 3/4 in., James C. Lo Workshop, Gift of Lucy Lo, View North From Mogao Cave 268 Into Adjacent Caves, Photograph taken in , The. Examination paper, reused for the upper part of a funeral shoe, , ink on paper, 15 3/4 12 3/16 in., Princeton East Asian Library Dunhuang and Turfan Collection, manuscript # PEALD 7p. The East Asian Library, Princeton University. ABOUT SEATTLE ART MUSEUM As the leading visual art institution in the Pacific Northwest, SAM draws on its global collections, powerful exhibitions, and dynamic programs to provide unique educational resources benefiting the Seattle region, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. SAM was founded in 1933 with a focus on Asian art. By the late 1980s the museum had outgrown its original home, and in 1991 a new 155,000-square-foot downtown building, designed by Robert Venturi, Scott Brown & Associates, opened to the public. The 1933 building was renovated and reopened as the Asian Art Museum. SAM s desire to further serve its community was realized in 2007 with the opening of two stunning new facilities: the nine-acre Olympic Sculpture Park (designed by Weiss/Manfredi Architects) a museum without walls, free and open to all and the Allied Works Architecture designed 118,000-square-foot expansion of its main, downtown location, including 232,000 square feet of additional space built for future expansion. From a strong foundation of Asian art to noteworthy collections of African and Oceanic art, Northwest Coast Native American art, European and American art, and modern and contemporary art, the strength of SAM s collection of more than 25,000 objects lies in its diversity of media, cultures and time periods.

SELECTED IMAGES IMAGE CAPTION Celestial musician with flute, 1958 63, Chinese, Modern period, 1912 present, copy after wall painting, Western Wei dynasty, 535 557, Place made: Mogao Caves, Dunhuang,

4 SELECTED IMAGES IMAGE CAPTION Celestial musician with flute, , Chinese, Modern period, 1912 present, copy after wall painting, Western Wei dynasty, , Place made: Mogao Caves, Dunhuang, Gansu province, China, ink and color on paper, 27 1/4 x 19 1/8 in., James C. Lo Workshop, Gift of Lucy L. Lo, Bodhisattva holding peaches, , Chinese, Modern period, present, copy after wall painting, High Tang dynasty, , Place made: Mogao Caves, Dunhuang, Gansu province, China, ink and color on paper, 56 1/16 x 20 3/16 in., James C. Lo Workshop, Gift of Lucy Lo,

Kasyapa, 1958-63, Chinese, Modern period, 1912- present, copy after wall

Gansu proveince, China, ink and color on paper, 30 7/8 x 21 3/4 in.

View North From Mogao Cave 268 Into Adjacent Caves, Photograph taken in

5 Kasyapa, , Chinese, Modern period, present, copy after wall painting, High Tang Dynasty, , Place made: Mogao Caves, Dunhuang, Gansu proveince, China, ink and color on paper, 30 7/8 x 21 3/4 in., James C. Lo Workshop, Gift of Lucy Lo, View North From Mogao Cave 268 Into Adjacent Caves, Photograph taken in , The Lo Archive. Mogao Cave 205, Early Tang dynasty ( ), Photograph taken in , The Lo Archive.

Parinirvana, Mogao Cave 158, Middle Tang dynasty (781 848), Photograph taken in 1943 44, The Lo Archive. View of the Northern Mogao Caves, Photograph taken in 1943 44, The Lo Archive.

6 Parinirvana, Mogao Cave 158, Middle Tang dynasty ( ), Photograph taken in , The Lo Archive. View of the Northern Mogao Caves, Photograph taken in , The Lo Archive. Examination paper, reused for the upper part of a funeral shoe, , ink on paper, 15 3/4 12 3/16 in., Princeton East Asian Library Dunhuang and Turfan Collection, manuscript # PEALD 7p. The East Asian Library, Princeton University. Examination paper, reused for the upper part of a funeral shoe, , ink on paper, 9 5/ /16 in., Princeton East Asian Library Dunhuang and Turfan Collection, manuscript # PEALD 11d R. The East Asian Library, Princeton University.

Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection Tempera 6 x 5 1/2 in. (15.3 x 14 cm) 2. 33.

Fuller Memorial Collection Tempera 4 7/16 x 4 1/2 in. (11.2 x 11.5 cm) 3. 63.

century Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection Earthenware, with trace of colors 4 7/8

Golde in memory of Helen May Johnson Lithograph 30 x 22 1/2 in. (76.2 x 57.

Lo Procession of Lady Song, 1958-1963 37 1/2 280 1/4 in. (95.3 711.8 cm) 6. T2015.

Lo Procession of Zhang Yichao, 1958-1963 37 9/16 275 3/16 in. (95.4 698.9 cm) 7.

7 (not assigned) Turkestan Buddhist Wall Painting Fragment, 6th-7th century Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection Tempera 6 x 5 1/2 in. (15.3 x 14 cm) Paintings Turkestan Buddhist Wall Painting Fragment, 6th-7th century Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection Tempera 4 7/16 x 4 1/2 in. (11.2 x 11.5 cm) Books and Chinese Votive tablet: seated Buddha with two bodhisattvas, 7th century Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection Earthenware, with trace of colors 4 7/8 x 4 1/2 x 15/16 in. (12.38 x x 2.38 cm) Prints Zhang Daqian Lotus, 1973 Gift of Marcy J. Golde in memory of Helen May Johnson Lithograph 30 x 22 1/2 in. (76.2 x cm) 5. T Drawings and James C. Lo Procession of Lady Song, / /4 in. ( cm) 6. T Drawings and James C. Lo Procession of Zhang Yichao, / /16 in. ( cm) 7. T Drawings and James C. Lo Building, / /16 in. ( cm) 8. T (not assigned) James C. Lo Bodhisattva holding peaches, / /16 in. ( cm) Printed: 2 Mar :34 PM Page 1 of 7

Lo Animals, 1958-1963 25 3/16 37 15/16 in. (64 96.

Lo Heavenly Guardian (Tianlong babu), 1958-1963 39

2 cm) 13. T2015.41.9 Drawings and 14. T2015.41.10 Drawings and James C.

(78.5 112 cm) 15. T2015.41.11 Drawings and James C.

8 9. T Drawings and James C. Lo Celestial musician with flute, /4 19 1/8 in. ( cm) 10. T Drawings and James C. Lo Animals, / /16 in. ( cm) 11. T Drawings and James C. Lo Heavenly Guardian (Tianlong babu), /16 31 in. ( cm) 12. T (not assigned) James C. Lo Kasyapa, /8 21 3/4 in. ( cm) 13. T Drawings and 14. T Drawings and James C. Lo Landscape, / /16 in. ( cm) James C. Lo Buddhist Tiger Story, /8 44 1/8 in. ( cm) 15. T Drawings and James C. Lo Lady, /4 27 3/8 in. ( cm) 16. T Drawings and James C. Lo Banquet scene, / /16 in. ( cm) Printed: 2 Mar :35 PM Page 2 of 7

17. T2015.46.1 Books and Examination paper, reused for the upper part of a funeral shoe, 618-907 Ink on paper 19 5/16 20 1/16 in. (49 51 cm) 18. T2015.46.2 Books and Examination paper, reused for the upper part of a funeral shoe, 618-907 Ink on paper 15 3/4 12 3/16 in.

Buddhabhāshita-buddhanāma-sūtra), chapter 4, probably 618-907 Ink on paper 14 6 3/8 in. (35.5 16.2 cm) 20. T2015.46.

5 Books and Flower Garland Sutra (Huayan jing 佛佛佛 ; Skt. Avataṃsaka-sūtra), volume 77, 14th Century Ink on paper 11 7/16 4 3/4 in. (29 12 cm) 22. T2015.46.

9 17. T Books and Examination paper, reused for the upper part of a funeral shoe, Ink on paper 19 5/ /16 in. (49 51 cm) 18. T Books and Examination paper, reused for the upper part of a funeral shoe, Ink on paper 15 3/4 12 3/16 in. (40 31 cm) 19. T Books and Sutra Spoken by the Buddha on the Names of the Buddhas (Foshuo foming jing 佛佛佛佛佛 ; Skt. Buddhabhāshita-buddhanāma-sūtra), chapter 4, probably Ink on paper /8 in. ( cm) 20. T Books and Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha (Zhong Ahan jing 佛佛佛佛 ; Skt. Madhyama Āgama), chapter 23, Ink on paper 14 9/ /8 in. (37 55 cm) 21. T Books and Flower Garland Sutra (Huayan jing 佛佛佛 ; Skt. Avataṃsaka-sūtra), volume 77, 14th Century Ink on paper 11 7/16 4 3/4 in. (29 12 cm) 22. T Books and Illustration of Avalokiteśvara, probably 11th-12th Century Ink on paper 8 1/4 11 in. (21 28 cm) 23. T Photographs En route from the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang to the Yulin Caves in Anxi, March 1943, T Photographs View of the Mogao Caves, , Printed: 2 Mar :35 PM Page 3 of 7

10 25. T Photographs View of the Mogao Caves, , 26. T Photographs View of the Northern Mogao Caves, , 27. T Photographs Dedicatory inscription along the north wall of the corridor of Mogao Cave 158, Middle Tang dynasty ( ) 28. T Photographs View of north wall and cave exterior of Mogao Cave 257, Northern Wei dynasty ( ) 29. T Photographs Interior view of Mogao Cave 272, Northern Liang dynasty ( ) 30. T Photographs View of Mogao Caves, , 31. T Photographs Front section of the cave and ceiling of Mogao Cave 428, Northern Zhou dynasty ( ) 32. T Photographs Bodhisattva on the north side of the niche on the west wall of Mogao Cave 320, Middle Tang dynasty ( ) Printed: 2 Mar :35 PM Page 4 of 7

33. T2015.52.11 Photographs Bodhisattva and disciple, south side of the west wall niche of Mogao Cave 328, early Tang dynasty (618 714) 34. T2015.52.12 Photographs Buddha group in the west wall niche of Mogao Cave 328, early Tang dynasty (618 714) 35.

11 33. T Photographs Bodhisattva and disciple, south side of the west wall niche of Mogao Cave 328, early Tang dynasty ( ) 34. T Photographs Buddha group in the west wall niche of Mogao Cave 328, early Tang dynasty ( ) 35. T Photographs Bodhisattvas on the north side of the west wall niche of Mogao Cave 328, early Tang dynasty ( ) 36. T Photographs Detail of landscape and animals from the Story of the Five Hundred Robbers, south wall of Mogao Cave 285, dated T Photographs Detail of landscape on the south side of the west wall of Yulin Cave 3, Xi Xia dynasty ( ) 38. T Photographs Mogao Cave 158, mid-tang period ( ) 39. T Photographs Parinirvana, Cave 158, Middle Tang dynasty ( ), 40. T Photographs Cave 263, Northern Wei dynasty ( ), Printed: 2 Mar :35 PM Page 5 of 7

41. T2015.52.20 Photographs Cave 205, Early Tang dynasty (618 704), 42. T2015.52.21 Photographs Cave 328, Early Tang dynasty (618 704), 43.

T2015.52.25 Photographs Cave 465, Yuan dynasty (1260 1368), 47. T2015.52.26 Photographs Cave 254, central pillar, niche facing east, 48. T2015.52.27 Photographs Cave 251, east wall, Printed: 2 Mar 2016 02:35 PM Page 6 of 7

12 41. T Photographs Cave 205, Early Tang dynasty ( ), 42. T Photographs Cave 328, Early Tang dynasty ( ), 43. T Photographs Ceiling, Cave 387, High Tang dynasty ( ), 44. T Photographs Cave 393, Sui dynasty ( ), 45. T Photographs Cave 397, Sui to early Tang dynasty ( ), 46. T Photographs Cave 465, Yuan dynasty ( ), 47. T Photographs Cave 254, central pillar, niche facing east, 48. T Photographs Cave 251, east wall, Printed: 2 Mar :35 PM Page 6 of 7

meditation nicke 267, across cave 268 and through meditation niche 271, to the

T2015.52.30 Photographs Cave 158, west wall, left section, 52. T2015.52.31 Photographs Cave 96, seated Buddha in center of cave, close-up, 53.

13 49. T Photographs View through the north wall of Cave 266, view into the meditation nicke 267, across cave 268 and through meditation niche 271, to the north wall of 272, 50. T Photographs Cave 158, north wall, left, 51. T Photographs Cave 158, west wall, left section, 52. T Photographs Cave 96, seated Buddha in center of cave, close-up, 53. T Photographs Exterior of Yu-Lin caves, Printed: 2 Mar :35 PM Page 7 of 7

Ngoc B. Le. Simon Fraser University

Ngoc B. Le. Simon Fraser University Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies ISSN 1710-8268 http://journals.sfu.ca/cjbs/index.php/cjbs/index Number 11, 2016 Bringing Buddhist Art to Vancouver: A Luncheon Preview of Cave Temples of Dunhuang: