ROCKSTAR BUDDHA

National Museum of Ethnology, Leiden (NL) / Tropenmuseum Amsterdam (NL)

Place of reflection

Kossmanndejong has designed the temporary exhibition about the life of the Buddha for the National Museum of Ethnology in Leiden. What makes the life of this spiritual leader so intriguing? How do effigies from different countries distinguish themselves? What are people looking for when they turn to Buddhism? These and other questions are central to the exhibition ‘THE BUDDHA’.

Location
Leiden (NL), Amsterdam (NL)
Client
National Museum of World Cultures
Year
2016

Introduction to Buddha's life

Three-part collage

Upon entering the exhibition visitors are welcomed by a large Buddha statue, followed by an introduction to Buddha’s life.
Upon entering the exhibition visitors are welcomed by a large Buddha statue, followed by an introduction to Buddha’s life.
The story of his life is told as if it were a comic strip. Presented in an intimate pavilion, a selection of beautiful reliefs from Ghandara shows the highlights of the Buddha’s life in a linear fashion. These first depictions of Buddha are countered by what is displayed on the surroundings walls.
The story of his life is told as if it were a comic strip. Presented in an intimate pavilion, a selection of beautiful reliefs from Ghandara shows the highlights of the Buddha’s life in a linear fashion. These first depictions of Buddha are countered by what is displayed on the surroundings walls.
Buddha altar in Tibet
Visitors are taken on a journey through the most important Buddhist countries along historical sites across the world, where Buddhism had meaning in the past, and where it is still very much alive today.

Contemporary manga and modern art show that passing on Buddhist teachings by means of visual stories is tradition still very much alive. By means of infographics visitors can get to know about the iconography and meaning of the different positions of the hands in Buddha statues.

Together the exhibition spaces form a rainbow, which in the last room converge into a white experience of light. A metaphor for reaching enlightenment and Nirvana.
Walking to enlightenment

Having been equipped with this knowledge, visitors are ready to start their pilgrimage. The journey includes Thailand, India, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Tibet and Japan, but also The Netherlands. In each country a specific topic has been highlighted, such as relics, the dissemination of the faith, writings and death. Kossmanndejong has managed to find a wonderful equilibrium between the presentation of the museum collection and creating an experiential environment for the visitors. A connecting band of life-size photographs provides the unique collection of Buddha statues with a context. In an impressive manner it shows the religious experience of Buddhist worldwide as well as the many temples and festivals. A variety of altars offer visitors space for reflection and contemplation.

Buddha entrance hall
‘THE BUDDHA’ was open to the public from 12 February until 14 August 2016 in the National Museum of Ethnography in Leiden and from 23 September until 29 January 2017 in the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam.

Do you have a story to tell?

Then let’s get started!

Lieke

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