Divine Bodies

The Asian Art Museum is currently presenting Divine Bodies, an exhibit that mixes ancient artwork from their permanent collection with photo-based contemporary art...

...including some wonderful work by Pamela Singh.

Most of the sacred imagery revolves around Buddha, though there is a crucified Jesus at the entrance.

My friend James Parr guessed that the Christian sculpture might be from from Japan but I thought it had to be from the Philippines, which turned out to be correct. "The only place they love bloody Jesus imagery more than Mexico is the Philippines. That Mel Gibson movie, The Passion of Christ, is probably still playing in Metro Manila."

One of the incidental joys of the Asian Art Museum is that the devotional art is not focused on violent stories from the Christian Bible, and it also has room for goddesses.

The demonic side of the universe is clearly acknowledged...

...counterbalanced by fat, laughing, enlightened Buddhas.

It also recognizes the sacred in the erotic...

...where polyamory can involve multiple arms and heads.