SACKLER

Went to the Sackler yesterday (Ben's suggestion) and saw the Himalayas exhibit. Definitely worth a second trip before it closes on January 11th. The exhibit is on two levels and divided into three geographical sections -- Nepal, Kashmir and central Tibet -- with an incredible wealth of artifacts in each section. The pieces are religious artifacts with complex messages that engage even the uninitiated. It's actually a bit overwhelming.

My favorite piece is the large, colorful painting from Kashmir (I believe), at the foot of the stairs: a yogi stands atop a series of animals, held up by what I believe is a god of some sort, who is standing on a series of animals, and all of it rests ultimately on two small, mysterious circles, one white, one red. Parts of the yogi's body are labeled but I couldn't read the words, obviously. None of the animals are labeled, however, nor are the two circles.