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Home , Dunhuang, Dunhuang manuscripts, Zhang Yichao

MAR 5 – JUN 12 2016

PRESS Press Contact Rachel Eggers Manager of Public Relations [email protected] RELEASE 206.654.3151 FEBRUARY 25, 2016

JOURNEY TO : OF THE CAVES OPENS AT ASIAN ART MUSEUM MAR 5

See the wonders of ’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, , 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 (1902–1987) 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 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. 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 . “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 Award- winning 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, 1958–63, Chinese, Modern period, 1912–present, copy after wall painting, Western Wei dynasty, 535–557, Place made: , Dunhuang, province, China, ink and color on paper, 27 1/4 x 19 1/8 in., James C. Lo Workshop, Gift of Lucy L. Lo, 2012-133. Parinirvana, Mogao Cave 158, Middle (781–848), Photograph taken in 1943– 44, The Lo Archive. Kasyapa, 1958-63, Chinese, Modern period, 1912-present, copy after wall painting, High Tang Dynasty, 704-781, 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, 2012-136. View North From Mogao Cave 268 Into Adjacent Caves, Photograph taken in 1943–44, The Lo Archive. Examination paper, reused for the upper part of a funeral shoe, 618-907, 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, 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, 2012-133.

Bodhisattva holding peaches, 1958- 63, Chinese, Modern period, 1912- present, copy after wall painting, High Tang dynasty, 704-781, 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, 2012-137.

Kasyapa, 1958-63, Chinese, Modern period, 1912- present, copy after wall painting, High Tang Dynasty, 704-781, 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, 2012-136.

View North From Mogao Cave 268 Into Adjacent Caves, Photograph taken in 1943–44, The Lo Archive.

Mogao Cave 205, Early Tang dynasty (618–704), Photograph taken in 1943–1944, 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.

Examination paper, reused for the upper part of a funeral shoe, 618-907, 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, 618-907, ink on paper, 9 5/16 × 20 1/16 in., Princeton East Asian Library Dunhuang and Turfan Collection, manuscript # PEALD 11d R. © The East Asian Library, Princeton University.

Object List with Image

Object Number Classification Attribution Title, Credit line, Date, Medium Image

1. 33.1679 (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)

2. 33.1680 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)

3. 63.145 Books and Chinese Votive tablet: seated Buddha with two Manuscripts 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 11.43 x 2.38 cm)

4. 2012.2.5 Prints Daqian Lotus, 1973 Gift of Marcy J. Golde in memory of Helen May Johnson Lithograph 30 x 22 1/2 in. (76.2 x 57.15 cm)

5. T2015.41.1 Drawings and James C. Lo Procession of Lady Song, 1958-1963 Watercolors Princeton Art Museum, Gift of Lucy L. Lo Ink and color on paper 37 1/2 × 280 1/4 in. (95.3 × 711.8 cm)

6. T2015.41.2 Drawings and James C. Lo Procession of , 1958-1963 Watercolors Princeton Art Museum, Gift of Lucy L. Lo Ink and color on paper 37 9/16 × 275 3/16 in. (95.4 × 698.9 cm)

7. T2015.41.3 Drawings and James C. Lo Building, 1958-1963 Watercolors Princeton Art Museum, Gift of Lucy L. Lo Ink and color on paper 58 7/8 × 37 15/16 in. (149.5 × 96.3 cm)

8. T2015.41.4 (not assigned) James C. Lo Bodhisattva holding peaches, 1958-1963 Princeton Art Museum, Gift of Lucy L. Lo Ink and color on paper 56 1/16 × 20 3/16 in. (142.4 × 51.3 cm)

Printed: 2 Mar 2016 02:34 PM Page 1 of 7

OBJECTS–Object List with Image User: TinaL Object List with Image

Object Number Classification Attribution Title, Credit line, Date, Medium Image

9. T2015.41.5 Drawings and James C. Lo Celestial musician with flute, 1958-1963 Watercolors Princeton Art Museum, Gift of Lucy L. Lo Ink and color on paper 27 1/4 × 19 1/8 in. (69.2 × 48.5 cm)

10. T2015.41.6 Drawings and James C. Lo Animals, 1958-1963 Watercolors Princeton Art Museum, Gift of Lucy L. Lo Ink and color on paper 25 3/16 × 37 15/16 in. (64 × 96.4 cm)

11. T2015.41.7 Drawings and James C. Lo Heavenly Guardian (Tianlong babu), Watercolors 1958-1963 Princeton Art Museum, Gift of Lucy L. Lo Ink and color on paper 39 1/16 × 31 in. (99.2 × 78.8 cm)

12. T2015.41.8 (not assigned) James C. Lo Kasyapa, 1958-1963 Princeton Art Museum, Gift of Lucy L. Lo Ink and color on paper 30 7/8 × 21 3/4 in. (78.4 × 55.2 cm)

13. T2015.41.9 Drawings and James C. Lo Landscape, 1958-1963 Watercolors Princeton Art Museum, Gift of Lucy L. Lo Ink and color on paper 27 3/16 × 50 1/16 in. (69 × 127.1 cm)

14. T2015.41.10 Drawings and James C. Lo Buddhist Tiger Story, 1958-1963 Watercolors Princeton Art Museum, Gift of Lucy L. Lo Ink and color on paper 30 7/8 × 44 1/8 in. (78.5 × 112 cm)

15. T2015.41.11 Drawings and James C. Lo Lady, 1958-1963 Watercolors Princeton Art Museum, Gift of Lucy L. Lo Ink and color on paper 40 1/4 × 27 3/8 in. (102.2 × 69.5 cm)

16. T2015.41.12 Drawings and James C. Lo Banquet scene, 1958-1963 Watercolors Princeton Art Museum, Gift of Lucy L. Lo Ink and color on paper 39 13/16 × 25 5/16 in. (101.2 × 64.3 cm)

Printed: 2 Mar 2016 02:35 PM Page 2 of 7

OBJECTS–Object List with Image User: TinaL Object List with Image

Object Number Classification Attribution Title, Credit line, Date, Medium Image

17. T2015.46.1 Books and Examination paper, reused for the upper Manuscripts 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 Manuscripts part of a funeral shoe, 618-907

Ink on paper 15 3/4 × 12 3/16 in. (40 × 31 cm)

19. T2015.46.3 Books and Spoken by the Buddha on the Names Manuscripts of the Buddhas (Foshuo foming jing 佛佛佛佛 佛; Skt. Buddhabhāshita-buddhanāma-sūtra), chapter 4, probably 618-907

Ink on paper 14 × 6 3/8 in. (35.5 × 16.2 cm)

20. T2015.46.4 Books and Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha Manuscripts (Zhong Ahan jing 佛佛佛佛; Skt. Madhyama Āgama), chapter 23, 1260-1368

Ink on paper 14 9/16 × 21 5/8 in. (37 × 55 cm)

21. T2015.46.5 Books and Flower Garland Sutra (Huayan jing 佛佛佛; Manuscripts Skt. Avataṃsaka-sūtra), volume 77, 14th Century

Ink on paper 11 7/16 × 4 3/4 in. (29 × 12 cm)

22. T2015.46.6 Books and Illustration of Avalokiteśvara, probably Manuscripts 11th-12th Century

Ink on paper 8 1/4 × 11 in. (21 × 28 cm)

23. T2015.52.1 Photographs En route from the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang to the Yulin Caves in Anxi, March 1943, 1943 Lo Archive

24. T2015.52.2 Photographs View of the Mogao Caves, 1943-44, 1943-1944 Lo Archive

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OBJECTS–Object List with Image User: TinaL Object List with Image

Object Number Classification Attribution Title, Credit line, Date, Medium Image

25. T2015.52.3 Photographs View of the Mogao Caves, 1943-44, 1943-1944 Lo Archive

26. T2015.52.4 Photographs View of the Northern Mogao Caves, 1943-44, 1943-1944 Lo Archive

27. T2015.52.5 Photographs Dedicatory inscription along the north wall of the corridor of Mogao Cave 158, Middle Tang dynasty (781-848) Lo Archive

28. T2015.52.6 Photographs View of north wall and cave exterior of Mogao Cave 257, dynasty (439-534) Lo Archive

29. T2015.52.7 Photographs Interior view of Mogao Cave 272, Northern Liang dynasty (421-439) Lo Archive

30. T2015.52.8 Photographs View of Mogao Caves, 1943-44, 1943-1944 Lo Archive

31. T2015.52.9 Photographs Front section of the cave and ceiling of Mogao Cave 428, Northern Zhou dynasty (557–581) Lo Archive

32. T2015.52.10 Photographs Bodhisattva on the north side of the niche on the west wall of Mogao Cave 320, Middle Tang dynasty (781–848) Lo Archive

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OBJECTS–Object List with Image User: TinaL Object List with Image

Object Number Classification Attribution Title, Credit line, Date, Medium Image

33. T2015.52.11 Photographs Bodhisattva and disciple, south side of the west wall niche of Mogao Cave 328, early Tang dynasty (618–714) Lo Archive

34. T2015.52.12 Photographs Buddha group in the west wall niche of Mogao Cave 328, early Tang dynasty (618–714) Lo Archive

35. T2015.52.13 Photographs Bodhisattvas on the north side of the west wall niche of Mogao Cave 328, early Tang dynasty (618–714) Lo Archive

36. T2015.52.14 Photographs Detail of landscape and animals from the Story of the Five Hundred Robbers, south wall of Mogao Cave 285, dated 538–539 Lo Archive

37. T2015.52.15 Photographs Detail of landscape on the south side of the west wall of Yulin Cave 3, Xi Xia dynasty (1038–1227) Lo Archive

38. T2015.52.16 Photographs Mogao Cave 158, mid-Tang period (781–848) Lo Archive

39. T2015.52.18 Photographs Parinirvana, Cave 158, Middle Tang dynasty (781–848), 1943-1944 Lo Archive

40. T2015.52.19 Photographs Cave 263, Northern Wei dynasty (439–534), 1943-1944 Lo Archive

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OBJECTS–Object List with Image User: TinaL Object List with Image

Object Number Classification Attribution Title, Credit line, Date, Medium Image

41. T2015.52.20 Photographs Cave 205, Early Tang dynasty (618–704), 1943-1944 Lo Archive

42. T2015.52.21 Photographs Cave 328, Early Tang dynasty (618–704), 1943-1944 Lo Archive

43. T2015.52.22 Photographs Ceiling, Cave 387, High Tang dynasty (705–780), 1943-1944 Lo Archive

44. T2015.52.23 Photographs Cave 393, (581–618), 1943-1944 Lo Archive

45. T2015.52.24 Photographs Cave 397, Sui to early Tang dynasty (581–704), 1943-1944 Lo Archive

46. T2015.52.25 Photographs Cave 465, (1260–1368), 1943-1944 Lo Archive

47. T2015.52.26 Photographs Cave 254, central pillar, niche facing east, 1943-1944 Lo Archive

48. T2015.52.27 Photographs Cave 251, east wall, 1943-1944 Lo Archive

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OBJECTS–Object List with Image User: TinaL Object List with Image

Object Number Classification Attribution Title, Credit line, Date, Medium Image

49. T2015.52.28 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, 1943-1944 Lo Archive

50. T2015.52.29 Photographs Cave 158, north wall, left, 1943-1944 Lo Archive

51. T2015.52.30 Photographs Cave 158, west wall, left section, 1943-1944 Lo Archive

52. T2015.52.31 Photographs Cave 96, seated Buddha in center of cave, close-up, 1943-1944 Lo Archive

53. T2015.52.32 Photographs Exterior of Yu-Lin caves, 1943-1944 Lo Archive

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OBJECTS–Object List with Image User: TinaL