A special preview of the Buddhist exhibition was organised at The Metropolitan Museum of Art which opens to the public on July 21. The exhibition ‘Tree & Serpent: Early Buddhist Art in India, 200 BCE-400 CE’ traces the origins of Buddhist art with 125 artefacts, and is backed by Nita Ambani, founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation. 

The preview was attended by Ambani and hosted by Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian Ambassador to the US, his counterpart, Eric Garcetti, and John Guy, the Met’s South and Southeast Asian curator and the curator of ‘Tree & Serpent’. 

The theme of the 'Tree & Serpent' exhibition

‘Tree & Serpent’ showcases over 125 objects dating from 200 BCE to 400 CE at The Met. 

Organised around a series of themes centred around original relics and reliquaries from ancient India, the show reflects on a time when the country’s religious landscape was transformed by the teachings of Buddha, which in turn, found expression in a repository of art devoted to relaying his message.

The show focuses on different themes related to ancient artefacts from India. It looks back at a time when Buddhism brought significant changes to the country’s religious beliefs. This inspired a creation of a wide range of artworks dedicated to spreading Buddha’s teachings.

The exhibition has both the pre-Buddhist origins of figurative sculpture in India and the early traditions that were central to this formative moment in early Indian art. The ‘tree’ and ‘snake’ are important motifs in Buddhist art.

It also focused on the ‘stupas’ which not only housed the relics of the Buddha but also had symbolic representations.

It explores how the ideas of Buddhism— expressed through images— grew from ethical teachings into the religion.

The deep-rooted connection between Buddhism and India

Commenting on the occasion, Ambani said, “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.”

Already a supporter of the museum, Ambani was named an honorary trustee of The Met in 2019, the first Indian on the museum’s board of trustees. 

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