The Museum’s Asian gallery reopened at the end of August 2021after a four-month renovation made possible through the generous support of the Christian Humann Foundation and the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation. The renovation significantly increases the museum’s capacity to display works of art to better serve the university and the Atlanta community. By removing and reconfiguring walls and building new pedestals with smaller footprints, the museum gained significant floor space, allowing three-dimensional works like the Shiva linga to be displayed in the round. A major component of the renovation was the installation of a series of archival drawers with protective UV plex covers to house the museum’s growing collection of Indian paintings. By housing the paintings in viewing drawers, the museum is able to make the paintings more accessible, while protecting them from the damaging effects of prolonged exposure to light.
These paintings have been examined and researched by many Emory classes over the past years, including courses on the Avatars of Vishnu and the Ramayana. In addition, Carlos staff worked this the summer with three Emory faculty members, Assistant Professor Dr. Ellen Gough, Associate Professor Dr. Sara McClintock, and Professor Dr. Joyce Flueckiger to carefully consider the organization of works of art in the new space as well and develop new interpretive materials. PhD candidate in the Graduate Division of Religion, Aditya Chaturvedi served as a research assistant on the reinstallation project. We are thrilled to unveil this beautiful new space at the end of the month.
Top:
Seated Buddha Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia, 1st Century. Red sandstone. The Ester R. Portnow Collection of Asian Art, a gift of the Nathan Rubin - Ida Ladd Family Foundation. 2000.005.001
Center (Left to Right):
Patriarch of Ngor Monastery, Tibet, China, Asia, early 17th Century, Watercolor on silk, The Ester R. Portnow Collection of Asian Art, a gift of the Nathan Rubin - Ida Ladd Family Foundation, 2000.005.005
Eighteen-Armed Vishnu Northern India, 11th Century. Sandstone. The Ester R. Portnow Collection of Asian Art, a gift of the Nathan Rubin-Ida Ladd Family Foundation. 2001.1.4
Vishnu Reclining on the Cosmic Ocean Northern India, 11th Century. Sandstone. The Ester R. Portnow Collection of Asian Art, a gift of the Nathan Rubin-Ida Ladd Family Foundation. 2001.1.14
Bottom:
Durga Battling the Buffalo Demon (Durgamahishasuramardini) Rajasthan, India, Asia, ca. 900 CE. Sandstone. The Ester R. Portnow Collection of Asian Art, a gift of the Nathan Rubin-Ida Ladd Family Foundation. 2001.001.006
Press:
Press Release
Rediscover the Michael C. Carlos Museum this fall
Emory Report | Aug. 31, 2021 View
