Join us for the exhibition preview of 'Shadow and Void: Buddha¹⁰' on Friday, 17 January 2025, from 6pm to 8pm.
esea contemporary and MAO (Museum of Asian Art), Turin, are pleased to present ‘Shadow and Void: Buddha10’, an innovative collaboration between the UK’s only non-profit gallery dedicated to East and Southeast Asian contemporary art and one of Europe’s foremost institutional collections of Asian art.
Curated by Xiaowen Zhu, Director of esea contemporary, and Davide Quadrio, Director of MAO, this exhibition intertwines scientific studies, contemporary art, and spirituality by showcasing recently restored Buddhist sculptures from the seventh to the eighteenth centuries CE, on loan from MAO, alongside contemporary works by Shigeru Ishihara, Lee Mingwei, LuYang, Sun Xun, Sinta Tantra, Wu Chi-Tsung, and Zheng Bo, including three new commissions created specifically for ‘Buddha10’.
Booking in advance is recommended due to limited space.
![Wu Chi-Tsung 吳季璁, Drawing Study — MAO Bodhisattva Guanyin, Ming-Qing Dynasty [寫生習作—觀音菩薩自在坐], 2022. Single-channel video (no sound), 26-second loop. Commissioned by MAO for the exhibition ‘Buddha10: A Fragmented Display on Buddhist Visual Evolution’.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6615123e02081eb99f094b79/6745d6a8fdcb62a7a6df0c9d_Wu%20Chi-Tsung%20-%20Drawing%20Study%20-%20snapshot%2000h10m00s.jpg)
The ‘Buddha¹⁰’ project began in 2022 as an initiative by MAO to study, analyse, and critically reinterpret Buddhist artefacts from its collection, asking questions such as: Where do they come from? Why are they here? What are the reasons behind the presence of these pieces in an Italian museum? And ultimately, how did they get here?
Through collaborations with experts and contemporary artists, ‘Buddha10’ has evolved beyond a static display, exploring the West’s historical fascination with Buddhist imagery, often acquired under colonial contexts. With its second phase launched in May 2023, ‘Buddha¹⁰’ expanded to include new contemporary works, digital content, and live performances, enriching the dialogue between historical and modern interpretations of Buddhism. This phase introduced further commissions and sound installations, immersing audiences in themes such as origins, restoration, and cultural legacy. By juxtaposing ancient artefacts with contemporary creations, ‘Buddha10’ delves into displacement, ritual, exotic consumption, and authenticity, inviting visitors to engage with Buddhist art as both sacred iconography and culturally significant artefact.
‘Shadow and Void: Buddha10’ marks the project’s first international iteration, journeying from Turin — Italy’s historic industrial centre and automotive hub —to Manchester, birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Staged at esea contemporary in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, just a stone’s throw away from the renowned Manchester Buddhist Centre, the exhibition offers a multi-sensory experience that welcomes the city’s multicultural communities (one fifth of the population identifies with Asian heritage.) Visitors are invited to engage with a serene, historically anchored reflection enhanced by dynamic contemporary art forms, including a sound installation by Shigeru Ishihara, video works by Lee Mingwei, LuYang, Sun Xun, and Wu Chi-Tsung, a site-specific mixed-media installation by Sinta Tantra, and a drawing installation by Zheng Bo.
In its latest iteration at esea contemporary – co-organised with Fondazione Torino Musei and generously supported by the Bagri Foundation, Arts Council England, and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority – ‘Shadow and Void: Buddha10’ builds upon this foundation, highlighting continuities, both historical and spiritual, with contemporary reflections on cultural heritage, ritual practices, and community engagement. The exhibition in Manchester invites visitors to experience a dialogue that bridges traditional reverence with the immediacy of contemporary art, celebrating both preservation and reinvention through interdisciplinary engagement.
The Museo d’Arte Orientale (MAO) in Turin, which opened its doors in December 2008, stands as a beacon of significance within Italy and ranks among the largest institutions in Europe dedicated to the study and appreciation of Asian art. It resides within the storied walls of Palazzo Mazzonis, a grand architectural masterpiece dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. An exquisite restoration effort has breathed new life into this historic edifice, meticulously preserving its ancient structures and embellishments, thus providing the perfect backdrop to showcase the museum's esteemed collection.
The MAO serves as an expansive window into the rich tapestry of ancient Asian cultures. Its galleries, thoughtfully arranged across four floors, offer an extensive array of artworks and artifacts hailing from South and Southeast Asia, including the Indian subcontinent and the Indochinese peninsula. Notably, it boasts Italy's most comprehensive collection of Chinese funerary art, spanning from the Neolithic era to the Tang dynasty (7th-10th centuries AD). Moreover, the museum houses displays of both religious and secular Japanese art, as well as artistic treasures from the Himalayan Region, encompassing Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan. A significant collection of Islamic art further enriches its offerings. On the ground floor, amidst the Japanese gardens, a dedicated space hosts temporary exhibitions that continually enhance the visitor experience.
The MAO's collection embodies profound meanings and wields tremendous potential. It uniquely positions itself in Italy as an institution that shares the narrative of a dynamically expanding continent. Through its collection and cultural programming, the MAO strives to serve as a platform that fosters international dialogue with the Asian world while concurrently acting as a bridge and filter connecting it to the Western world.
Fondazione Torino Musei conserves and manages the historical and artistic heritage of the City of Torino. The museums part of the Foundation are GAM – Galleria Civica d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, MAO – Museo d'Arte Orientale and Palazzo Madama – Museo Civico d'Arte Antica. Fondazione Torino Musei is the sole partner of Artissima s.r.l.
The mission of the Foundation is to preserve this heritage, shape research, exhibit and communicate these art collections and historical monuments, making them open and accessible to the public, thereby serving the community.
The Foundation pays close attention to accessibility and education, for children and young people of all ages and their families; it provides support for the development of artistic and curatorial projects on a regional level; it interacts with businesses to foster collaboration between cultural and entrepreneurial players; it defines its cultural contents in relation to a perspective on the world that permits valorisation of its own heritage, programming and exporting its exhibitions.
The Bagri Foundation, established in 1990, is a family foundation driven by curiosity. Its vision to cultivate a meaningful space for Asian culture to thrive, shift perspectives and deepen connections. Through grants and strategic partnerships, the Foundation champions unique ideas that weave traditional and contemporary of Asia. Recent and upcoming projects include Artes Mundi, the UK’s largest art award; Asian Bronze: 4000 Years of Beauty at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, an exhibition exploring bronze craftmanship through the centuries; and Citra Sasmita: Into Eternal Land, a sensorial exhibition showcasing Indonesian Kamasan paintings and Balinese mythology.
