The hosts discuss the closing of New York's Rubin Museum of Himalayan Buddhist art and its significance as a symbol of impermanence. They talk about the impact of the pandemic on the museum and its features, including a bookstore gift shop and various events. The value of contemporary art is compared to older art, specifically Buddhist art, and the role of museums in exhibiting artworks out of their original context. They also discuss a Tibetan museum and shrine in Staten Island and the preservation of sacred works.
25:26
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Quick takeaways
The closing of the Rubin Museum reflects the challenges faced by small private museums and the impact of the pandemic.
The podcast raises questions about the dual purpose of artworks as sources of inspiration and commodification and explores the complexities of the art market.
Deep dives
The Closing of the Rubin Museum
In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss the closing of the Rubin Museum in New York. The Rubin Museum is a relatively new museum that houses a collection of Himalayan Buddhist art. The hosts express sadness about the closure and highlight the museum's importance as a beautiful repository of art and a place of inspiration. They mention the impact of the pandemic on the museum and the challenges faced by small private museums in general. They also touch on the concept of impermanence and the nature of institutions closing. Overall, the podcast reflects on the significance of the Rubin Museum and the loss it represents.
The Intersection of Art and Spiritual Materialism
The hosts delve into the topic of art and spiritual materialism in the context of the Rubin Museum. They raise questions about the dual purpose of artworks and their value. On one hand, the art is intended to inspire spiritual practice and awakening, but on the other hand, it becomes a decoration and can be subject to inflated financial value. They discuss the complexities of the art market, particularly in contemporary art, and how it can create disparities in pricing and status among artists. The hosts also examine the relationship between commercialization of spiritual teachings and the sale of spiritual objects. They explore the fine line between finding inspiration from sacred art and engaging in materialistic consumption.
Museums and the Preservation of Cultural Heritage
The podcast episode reflects on the role of museums in preserving and sharing cultural heritage. The hosts acknowledge that artworks displayed in museums are often out of their original context, but emphasize the positive aspect of bringing these cultural artifacts to a broader audience. They mention the significance of the Rubin Museum in introducing people to Buddhist art and providing a source of inspiration. The hosts also discuss the broader ecosystem of museums and how they contribute to the cultural landscape. They mention the impact of popular interest in Buddhism on museum exhibitions and the influence of major institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Overall, the podcast highlights the importance of museums in preserving and disseminating cultural and artistic traditions.
The Rubin is an important institution in New York with a very significant collection and many special exhibitions of Tibetan and Himalayan art, specifically related to Buddhism and Buddhist culture in that part of the world. We received the sad news recently that they are closing the New York space and basically becoming a virtual and traveling museum. Jon and Doug discuss the closing and the nature of anicca-- impermanence.