Indian Art

Kristyn Klinck, Erica Gavzy, Augustin Boudes, Matt Brautigam,

Paul Jeong

Buddhism- The Four Truths• Believe in Four Truths:

1. Life means suffering1. To live means to suffer, because the human

nature is not perfect and neither is the world we live in

2. The origin of suffering is attachment 1. The reasons for suffering are desire,

passion, pursuit of wealth and prestige,

striving for fame and popularity, or in

short, craving and clinging

Four Truths

3. The end of suffering is attainable

1. Can be overcome through human activity, simply by removing the cause of suffering

2. Resulting in the state of Nirvana; freedom from all worries, troubles, complexes, fabrications and ideas

Four Truths4. There is a path to the end of suffering

1. Eight fold path of:-Right Understanding -Right Intention -Right Speech -Right Action -Right Livelihood-Right Effort-Right Mindfulness -Right Concentration

This leads to the end of the cycle of rebirth and enlightenment

Buddhism

• Buddhism is the second most popular religion in India next to Hinduism.

• Belief in reincarnation, and achieving nirvana. – humans are reborn after dying and go

through many cycles of birth, life, death and rebirth.

– Cycles end when the attachment to desire and the self is released.

• Once this is accomplished Nirvana

Buddha

• Buddha was the first to reach Nirvana. – Buddhists study his

teachings– He was not

idealized like a god until more recently

Buddhism– Buddhism is the

conviction that happiness and good fortune are attainable to all, regardless of age, race or background

– Belief that all negative mental states can be overcome through the practice of meditation.

Buddhism Phases• Buddhist art had two major phases

• Pre iconic phase around 5th century B.C. to 1st century, and the

–Sculptures representing Buddha's teachings

• Iconic phase from the 1st century till present day.

– Included the first images of Buddha as an anthropomorphic god,

»before he had only been represented with images associated with his life

Hinduism• Differs from Christianity and other

monotheistic religions in that it does not:– Believe in a prophet– A central religious authority– The concept of a single deity

• Similar to Native American way of life– More of a way of embracing life– Consists of "thousands of different religious

groups that have evolved in India since 1500 BCE."

Hinduism

• Most recognize a single God– Believe that other Gods and Goddesses are

other forms of said God– Multiple deities but only one universal soul– 3rd largest religion

• Believe in a caste system, – System where you are born into the social

class you will remain in for that life– Reincarnation

God Trinity• Shiva the destroyer • Brahma the creator• Vishnu the preserver

Some of the earliest Indian artwork: Petroglyph’s

Rock engravings

Pre Historic– Found in places like Bhimbetka rock

shelters in central India• Includes petroglyphs and actual painting• Discovered in 1957

-Some shelters

are estimated to

be over 100,000

years old

Ajanta Caves

Has been carved out of a monolith (type of mountain that is a single massive stone)

Ajanta Caves

• Ajanta- Midwestern India

• 31 rock cut caves

• Includes Buddhist religious art

• 200 BC- 600 AD

• They were used by Buddhist monks as prayer halls and monasteries for about nine centuries, then abruptly abandoned.

• Filled with paintings and sculptures

• Overlapping figures suggest perspective

• Colors are harmoniously

blended• Usually earth tones • Linework is sinuous

– Curving in and out

Buddhist Mythological Influence

• A scene from the story of King Shibi, who offered his own flesh to save a pigeon

Buddhism Influence Maya giving birth to Buddha

Ajanta Sculptures

• The Sculptures around Buddhism

• A life size Buddha sculpture is just one out of many that resemble the same pose

• This iconic pose signifies enlightenment

Features of Art• The sculptures are

less idealized and lacking depth

• However, best recognized for their intricate designs and their philosophic message

• Buddhists were more focused on self perfection

• The sculptures usually follow a cannon

The Stories in the Walls• The historic walls are

a chronicle of reliefs • The cave walls show

an intricate variety of designs through paintings, carvings and decorations

• Designs reach back to the stories of Buddhism and Hinduism

Ellora Caves

Ellora Caves-Consisted of Buddhist Caves, Hindu Caves, and

Jain Caves.• 12 Buddhist, 5 Jain, and the rest are Hindu• Shows religious harmony

-The 34 Caves are located on the face of the Charanandri hills

-Has cave temples and monasteries

-Built between the 5th & 11th centuries

Carpenter’s Cave at Ellora• Built in the 6th Century• Contains a large 15 foot

Buddha statue in ‘preaching pose’

• The ceiling’s vaulted roof resembles wooden beams, but the beams are really made of stone

• Main hall has central nave and two side aisles

Bronze Statue of Nataraja

• Now located at the Metropolitan Museum of Art• The ring around the dancer represents the universe• Snake = power he has over most deadly creatures• The central figure is

known as Shiva and

the significance of this

sculpture is to portray

Shiva as the source of

all movement• Represents Shiva’s

five movements

• Depiction of the Hindu god Shiva – “The birth of the

world, its maintenance, its destruction, the souls obscuration and liberation are the five acts of His dance.”

Bronze Statue of Nataraja

The Great Stupa and Sanchi

Stupa: large scale memorials built in particularly holy places

The Great Stupa at Sanchi

• Sanchi contains several Buddhist monuments• Important place of Buddhist pilgrimage

– Great Stupa commissioned by emperor Ashoka the Great

– Simple hemispherical brick structure built over relics of Buddha

»Became a symbol for Buddha and his final release from the cycle of birth and rebirth

Mughal Empire

Imperial power in Southern Asia that ruled most of India from the 17th century to the middle of the 19th century– Religion is Islam

• Architecture shows love for poetry and other artistic inclinations

• Great adjustments on outside decoration on eye perspective

• They are responsible for……..

The Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

• Mausoleum located in Agra, India

• Built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife called Mumtaz Mahal

• Combines elements of Persian, Islamic, and Indian architectural styles

• Built from 1632 to 1653

• Architect is Ustad Ahmad Lahauri

Taj Mahal

• Four minarets surround the temple

• Has an onion dome• Has huge vaulted

archways called “pishtaq” on the sides

•   Built in white marble

Taj Mahal Entrance

• There is calligraphy on the outside for decoration

• Influenced by Islam

Taj Mahal Gardens

• Garden is called a “charbag’ or a Mughal garden, influenced from earlier Persian gardens