Tree & Serpent: Early Buddhist Art in India, 200 BCE–400 CE’ opens on 21st July
‘Tree & Serpent: Early Buddhist Art in India, 200 BCE–400 CE’ opens at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) on July 21st. The spectacular exhibition, tracing the origins of Buddhist art, was made possible through support from Reliance Industries Limited and Mrs. Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, an Indian philanthropic organization.
A longtime, passionate supporter of the museum, Mrs. Nita Ambani was named an Honorary Trustee of The Met in 2019, becoming the first Indian person on the museum’s board of trustees. In this role, she has continued to work to introduce the finest of Indian art to global audiences.
Commenting on the occasion, Mrs. Nita Ambani said, “I come from India, the land of the Buddha, and it is a huge honor for me to support ‘Tree & Serpent’ through Reliance Foundation’s partnership with The Met. This historic exhibition traces the origins of early Buddhist art from 2nd century BC to 4th century AD, with over 125 objects from ancient India. With the ‘Tree & Serpent,’ we take immense pride in showcasing the deep-rooted connection between Buddhism and India. The teachings of Buddha are entwined with Indian ethos and continue to shape global thought. I hope people from around the world come and enjoy this one-of-a-kind experience. We remain committed to bringing the best of India to the world, and the best of the world to India.”
A special preview of Tree & Serpent, attended by Mrs. Nita Ambani and hosted by Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director, saw a number of esteemed personalities from the art world and beyond congregate, including, the Indian Ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, The US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, and the Met’s Florence and Herbert Irving Curator of South and Southeast Asian, and curator of Tree & Serpent, John Guy.
