The Royal Museum of Mariemont in Morlanwelz, Hainaut, will be hosting a new exhibition titled 'Buddha: The Experience of Sensibility,' from 21 September 2024 to 20 April 2025, the museum announced on Monday.
Often seen simply as decorative, a symbol of ‘zen’ or an idealised vision of Asia, the figure of Buddha holds a multitude of meanings and depictions. But what do we actually know about the interconnected narratives it carries? How do Buddhists view it? The Museum of Mariemont will endeavour to answer these questions in an exhibition featuring over a hundred sculptures, paintings and sacred objects from its own collections.
The curated selection spans across Asia, from India and China to Japan, Myanmar, Thailand and the Himalayas. “This provides an opportunity to explore Buddhist iconography in all its diversity and offer a fresh depiction of Buddha,” the museum stressed.
The items on display have not been seen publicly for nearly 85 years. Reserved after the fire at the Château de Mariemont in 1960, this collection unveils unknown treasures, with some items specially restored for the event. Buddhist thangka paintings from the Léon Verbert collection, loaned by the Royal Museums of Art and History, will also be on display.
With this exhibition, the museum says it encourages a deeper exploration of Buddha, inviting visitors to look closer and take time to investigate practices such as meditation and the rituals of Buddhism.
