Museum visit essay examples

A museum is a place where objects related to art, Science, Geography and History are placed for studies . The Birmingham Museum of Art is among largest great art museums with finest collection of art in the world. It attracts many visitors a year almost over 1million. It has over a collection of 450, 000 works of art, which makes it one of the most comprehensive collections within Europe. Buddhist art is among one of the most important exhibitions within the museum. I visited the museum to learn more about Buddhist art, specifically the image of Buddha.
The Buddha image is one of the pieces in Buddhist art that is rich in different art techniques. The most notable aspect of the image is its expression of serene quiescence as exhibited during the Buddhist meditations. It also exhibits an expression of great beauty, which is necessitated by the harmony of the image’s physical proportions. Artists assert that the Buddha image is one of the images that portrays the ability of art to portray the corresponding ideal physical position. The images of Buddha, also known as the greatest Yogin image of all times, gives the posture that was used by Buddha, among other members of the Hindu community while doing their meditation. The Buddha Dharma Education Association asserts that basic measure of this aspect is the span (2). It describes that it as the distance from the tip of the thumb of the outspread hand to the tip of the corresponding middle finger.
The Buddha had many powers in the Asian community. Historians believe that the most recognizable powers of the Buddha were ten. The Buddha image is a representation of one of the powers or rather notable qualities of the Buddha. It gives the various characteristics of not only the physical harmony but also the beauty of his Great Being. Some artists believe that the image is a representation of a heavenly body as expressed in the “ lines of the eight-spoked on the soles and palms of a Buddha” (Buddha Dharma Education Association 2).
A detailed study of the image of the Buddha shows that the every detail of the image represents or rather exhibits harmonious proportions of the body, a characteristic of the yogin position assumed during meditation in Buddhism. Notable among them is the spot between the image’s eyebrows as well as the tip of the nose, which reflects its own special place in the position in question. The specific length of the nose portrays the breathing exercises as well as relaxation that forms a major part of yoga practice. The spot between the eyebrows as been associated with the ‘ marking the eye of wisdom’, which was expressed by Buddha during his lifetime. Additionally, the ears of the image have a characteristic exaggerated length, which reflect the ears of the Buddha which were prolonged by the many jewels that he used to wear during his lifetime. Moreover, his crossed legs is a symbol of the yoga positions assumed during the meditation sessions. The crossed legs also played a pivotal role in hiding the lower parts of his body characteristic of the pre-Buddhist tradition in the Indian community. Another notable aspect of the image is the size of the shoulders. His shoulders are broadened to signify the stature of the Buddha and his power or rather influence in the religion. Additionally, the lowest part of the Buddha image or rather body is covered by the vajrasana (the diamond seat). It allowed the Buddha to acquire the posture required for utmost concentration during his meditations.
Buddha is also believed to have been a symbol of enlightenment during his lifetime as well as in the history of Buddhism. As far as the Buddha image is concerned, this aspect is reflected in the characteristic elevation of the head with great emphasis on the top part of the head. Many believe that it is the “ visible symbol of the spiritual generative power that strives towards heaven and passes into the immaterial sphere” (Buddha Dharma Education Association 3).
As aforementioned, the Buddha image depicts a combination of several aspects of art. It exhibits the techniques as well as notable features that bring out the ideal physical position of the Buddha during his meditation sessions. Some of the notable features are his characteristic nose, crossed leg, the position of his hands, the mark of wisdom between his eyebrows as well as his seat. The realization of these aspects calls for the proper use as well as harmony of the various materials as well as measurements applied in coming up with such an image.
The image is of great significance especially to the religion in question-Buddhism. It acts as a reflection of the ideal nature of the religion whose central aspect is meditation. Buddha practiced meditation in his attempt to gain a full understanding of the world especially adversity. In the same way, it reminds the faithful of the religion the important of yoga. To none Buddhists, the image enables them to appreciate not only Buddhism but also art and architecture. This is one of the major reasons why the Buddha image is found in most museums in the world among which is the Birmingham museum where I found the image.

Works Cited

Buddha Dharma Education Association. Buddhist Art and Architecture: The Buddha Image.