The Gandharan Gaze: A Study of the Conception, Reception and Cultural Heritage of the Buddhist Gandharan School of Art

This research is an analysis and interpretation of the Gandharan School of Buddhist art, which is popularly also known as Graeco-Buddha art. Commonly, this school of art has been considered as drawing heavy Hellenistic influence and was considered to be producing the first iconic image of Buddha through sculptures. The thesis revisits the popular conceptions and attempts to deconstruct these ideas to understand the artistic identities and influences surrounding this Buddhist School of Art. The thesis poses a twofold main question– 1: What are the predominant misconceptions concerning the Gandharan School of Art and where did these originate from? 2: The impact of these misconceptions on past and current museum displays and the impact on cultural heritage of the Gandharan School of Art as well as the heritage management of these archaeological artefacts. These questions have been answered by analysing the historiography of early archaeological excavations in the Gandharan region and...Show moreThis research is an analysis and interpretation of the Gandharan School of Buddhist art, which is popularly also known as Graeco-Buddha art. Commonly, this school of art has been considered as drawing heavy Hellenistic influence and was considered to be producing the first iconic image of Buddha through sculptures. The thesis revisits the popular conceptions and attempts to deconstruct these ideas to understand the artistic identities and influences surrounding this Buddhist School of Art. The thesis poses a twofold main question– 1: What are the predominant misconceptions concerning the Gandharan School of Art and where did these originate from? 2: The impact of these misconceptions on past and current museum displays and the impact on cultural heritage of the Gandharan School of Art as well as the heritage management of these archaeological artefacts. These questions have been answered by analysing the historiography of early archaeological excavations in the Gandharan region and a brief discussion on the importance of provenance research due to the colonial connotation to the early research done on the Gandharan School of Art. Discussions and critical analysis on the importance of material evidence and its analysis through composition, research on the techniques and materials used in the production of the sculptures and by understanding the importance of smaller, more intra- regional artistic identities of the Buddhist Gandharan art as well as finding more scientifically accurate data. There is also emphasis on Gandhara as a region being subject to many political empires and the exchange of cultures, people and trade which led to its development. Some scholarship, supplemented with Buddhist texts were also used to study the actual iconography and symbolism used in Gandharan art and its own development as a school of art. 83 Two case studies were also used to understand the impact of the misconceptions of Gandharan Art in museums and heritage spaces by analysing the Indian Museum, Kolkata and the Gandharan Gallery at the Indian Museum Kolkata including brief archaeological analysis of objects. There is also a study done on the state of management of the Indian Museum, Kolkata and proposed suggestions to foster better heritage practices and adhere to a high standard of cultural heritage protection and education. The research led to certain conclusions some of them being– the ancient symbolisms and presence of early Buddhist art that precedes Gandharan art which has very similar illustrations as that of the latter. Another importance observation was on the importance of supplementing Pali canons and Buddhist texts such as the Jātakas on which the Gandharan School of Art and every Buddhist art is created as it is ritualistic in function. Data derived from material and technological analysis of the Gandharan objects yielded useful. The extent of Hellenistic influence was also challenged in the research as well. Lastly, the protection and representation of cultural heritage in our case studies of the Indian Museum gave us insight into one of the earliest museums that houses Gandharan objects and a set of propositions to improve heritage management practices.Show less

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The Gandharan Gaze: A Study of the Conception, Reception and Cultural Heritage of the Buddhist Gandharan School of Art