Small Yet Exquisite: A Visit to the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields

Tang Dynasty court ladies figurines stand alongside a Mexican image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. A Heian period statue of Ksitigarbha is just a stone's throw from Renaissance religious paintings. A marble bust of Agricola from ancient Rome is set against a backdrop of ukiyo-e face masks. Comparing civilizations is an excellent way to explore history, but only museums in capitalist countries can curate permanent exhibitions that span time and geography, bringing together art from different civilizations under one roof. The reasons for this are self-evident. I had the opportunity to visit the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, a lesser-known museum. While its collection may not be extensive or particularly famous, its curatorial approach is clear, insightful, and thought-provoking. In addition to the aforementioned comparisons of figures and secular/religious themes across different civilizations (with the atrium offering a view of the starry sky for contemplating grand ideas), the second floor features exhibitions on themes such as "What Makes a Master," pastoral landscapes, early American portraiture, aestheticism, and modernism. The third floor houses Chicago School design arts, textiles and fashion arts, as well as African and Asian exhibitions. The presentation of ancient Chinese art is particularly concise and distinctive, featuring a comprehensive collection of bronze vessels, Han Dynasty pottery dogs, a statue of Amitabha Buddha with a complete base, and a beautiful Southern Song Dynasty Jizhou ware vase with a water ripple pattern. Founded in 1883 under the guidance of educator May Wright Sewall, the museum is adjacent to a large garden, which I unfortunately didn't have time to explore. Orchids are said to be a major feature of the garden, which explains why moth orchids are as common as ordinary flowers throughout the museum. P.S. The last picture shows the Indianapolis Children's Museum, the largest children's museum in the world, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.