Synopses & Reviews
The Swami Vivekananda's speech to the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 is the centerpiece of Indian artist Jitish Kallat's new work,
Public Notice 3. The installation went on view at the Art Institute of Chicago on September 11, 2010, exactly 108 years after Vivekananda delivered his groundbreaking address calling for an end to "bigotry and fanaticism."
The text of the speech appears on the risers of the Art Institute of Chicago's Grand Staircase where it is illuminated in the five colorsand#8212;red, orange, yellow, blue, and greenand#8212;designated by the United States Homeland Security Advisory System to signify threat levels. This companion book, which documents the installation, is the first full-scale exploration of Kallat's work published by a North American institution. Along with an interview with the artist, essays contextualize Public Notice 3 within the space of the installation and evaluate Kallat's oeuvre within an international context.
Synopsis
This book commemorates the remarkable gift of over 400 works from the collection of Barbara and David Kipper to the Art Institute of Chicago. These outstanding pieces of jewelry and ritual objects offer a material record of vanishing ways of life. Used as portable forms of wealth, as personal adornment, and in religious practice, they represent a broad spectrum of cultures. The majority comes from the Himalayan region, including Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and Mongolia, and other pieces hail from Afghanistan, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
The catalogue showcases stunning works including delicate amulet boxes, other Tibetan Buddhist artifacts, and ornate Turkmen jewelry through dramatic photography undertaken specifically for this publication. With five essays placing the objects in the contexts of their native regions, Vanishing Beautyoffers a beautiful presentation of creativity and craftsmanship from across Asia. "
Synopsis
Showcasing nearly 400 outstanding pieces of jewelry and ritual objects from diverse Asian cultures, this book offers a beautiful presentation of creativity and craftsmanship across the continent.
About the Author
Madhuvanti Ghose is the Alsdorf Associate Curator of Indian, Southeast Asian, Himalayan, and Islamic Art at the Art Institute of Chicago.