Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘Zurich’

A saunter down the Rietberg Museum at Zurich in Switzerland: Part 3 of 3

Posted in The European Diaries, tagged , , , , , , on November 9, 2016| 2 Comments »

zuerich_rietberg-villa_wesendonck

Indian art is much revered and valued in all major countries. So, the priceless collection of sculptures and paintings at Museum Rietburg in Zurich comes as no surprise.

Here are some of the artefacts one discovers while taking a saunter down the museum. These make one realize the immense potential of the soft power of India.

Zurich Rietberg 13

Zurich Rietberg 10

Zurich Rietberg 11

Zurich Rietberg 7

Zurich Rietberg 12

Zurich Rietberg 14

Zurich Rietberg 15

Zurich Rietberg 16

Zurich Rietberg 17

Zurich Rietberg 18

Zurich Rietberg 19

Zurich Rietberg 20

Zurich Rietberg 21

Zurich Rietberg 22

rietberg-india-buta-jumadi

Zurich Rietberg 23

Zurich Rietberg 24

rietberg-india-gita-govinda

rietberg-india-patan-sari

rietberg-india-uday-shankar

Art of any kind perhaps gets appreciated because it connects us with our own inner sense of aesthetics, beauty, love and harmony. The attempt to preserve and showcase the artworks of distant cultures and continents is praiseworthy indeed. It is a good example for other countries to emulate.

(Related Posts:

https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2016/11/04/a-saunter-down-the-rietberg-museum-at-zurich-in-switzerland-part-1-of-3

https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2016/11/06/a-saunter-down-the-rietberg-museum-at-zurich-in-switzerland-part-2-of-3

https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2014/12/12/a-saunter-down-the-louvre-part-1

https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2014/07/24/the-dance-of-life-at-the-national-gallery-of-norway)

Read Full Post »

A saunter down the Rietberg Museum at Zurich in Switzerland: Part 2 of 3

Posted in The European Diaries, tagged , , , , , on November 6, 2016| 3 Comments »

We live in times when protectionist tendencies appear to be on the rise. However, the Rietberg Museum at Zurich represents a global and inclusive view. It shows us the value humanity can attach to a profound respect for diverse cultures.

The Rietberg Museum is the only art museum of non-European cultures in Switzerland, the third-largest museum in Zürich, and the largest to be run by the city itself.

A leisurely stroll through the corridors makes one discover some exquisite works of art from across the world.img_4461

img_4432

img_4433

img_4434

Zurich Rietberg 3

Zurich Rietberg 4

Zurich Rietberg 5

Zurich Rietberg 6

Zurich Rietberg 8

Zurich Rietberg 9

In the early 1940s, the city of Zürich purchased the Rieterpark and the Wesendonck Villa. In 1949, the Wesendonck Villa was selected, by referendum, to be rebuilt into a museum for the Baron Eduard von der Heydt’s art collection, which he had donated to the city in 1945. This was carried out in 1951-52 under the architect Alfred Gradmann. The Rietberg Museum was opened on the 24 th of May, 1952.

(Related posts:

https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2016/11/04/a-saunter-down-the-rietberg-museum-at-zurich-in-switzerland-part-1-of-3

https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2016/11/09/a-saunter-down-the-rietberg-museum-at-zurich-in-switzerland-part-3-of-3)

Read Full Post »

A saunter down the Rietberg Museum at Zurich in Switzerland: Part 1 of 3

Posted in The European Diaries, tagged , , , , , on November 4, 2016| 5 Comments »

The Museum Rietberg Zurich is the only art museum for non-European cultures in Switzerland, exhibiting an internationally renowned collection of art from Asia, Africa and Ancient America.

Artworks from India jostle for space along with those from Africa, China, Japan, Tibet, Ancient America, Oceania and Southeast Asia. A veritable collection of old Swiss carnival masks brings in the local flavour.

Here are some of the artefacts one discovers while taking a leisurely walk through the corridors of the museum.

reitberg-afrika-headdressHeaddress

(Cameroon, 19th century)

rietberg-china-buddhaBuddha Shakyamuni

(China, 536 AD)

rietberg-umaUma

(Cambodia, late 7th century)

rietberg-siddhartha-indienMara’s daughters tempting Prince Siddhartha

(Pakistan, 2nd-3rd century)

rietberg-afrika-dragon-masterDragon master

(Mali, 13th/14th century)

rietberg-japan-stories-of-iseStories of Ise

(Japan, circa 1796)

rietberg-tibet-vairochanaVairochana, the Cosmic Buddha

(Tibet, 14th century)

rietberg-south-america-mushroom-stoneMushroom Stone

(El Salvador, 300 BC-250 AD)

rietberg-china-meditationMeditation

(China, 1649)

rietberg-china-green-taraThe green Tara

(China, circa 1405)

rietberg-south-america-mayan-drinking-vesselMayan drinking vessel

(South America, 600-900 AD)

rietberg-japan-kokuzoKokuzo – the Buddha to sharpen the intellect

(Japan, late 12th century)

rietberg-egypt-heracliusEmperor Heraclius in triumph

(Egypt, 7th century)

This unique collection is designed to heighten the understanding and appreciation of non-European art and cultures. The crowds which pour over minute details of many of the artworks on display bear a testimony to the fact that the love for art is universal, not confined to barriers of any kind – natural or man-made.

(Related Posts:

https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2016/11/06/a-saunter-down-the-rietberg-museum-at-zurich-in-switzerland-part-2-of-3

https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2016/11/09/a-saunter-down-the-rietberg-museum-at-zurich-in-switzerland-part-3-of-3)

Read Full Post »

Flying over the Swiss Alps (Part 2)

Posted in The European Diaries, tagged , , , , , , , , , on September 25, 2015| 9 Comments »

Berne

The capital city of Berne lies on the banks of the Aare which delicately loops through it. Magnificent fountains and well-sculptured statues abound. The Bundeshaus is the headquarters of the Swiss government. Those who have Relativity on their minds would love to look up the place where Einstein used to live.

Zurich

The point where the Lake of Zurich meets the Limmat River offers a panaromic view of the Alps. As with so many other cities of Switzerland, the city offers an enchanting range of museums. Right from delicious Rosti to sumptuous Indian fare, the foodie has many options of improving upon her intake of nourishment here.

Basel

Basel has some two dozen museums. It prides itself on its spirit of fun and ‘Morgenstraich’. World renowned chemical and pharmaceutical names are present in the city which is located on the bend of the Rhine where Switzerland shares its borders with France and Germany.

Cathedral of St Gall

The Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen lead one to the city of St. Gall, where the cathedral is bound to attract the lay tourist as also an expert architect on the lookout for a marvel in building design.

Santis

St. Gall leads one to the hilly Appenzell region with its towering Santis.

St Moritz

Sports resorts of St. Moritz, Davos and Arosa offer summer and winter fun to all those who care to visit this part of Switzerland. Mother Nature is there in all its benevolence, offering an experience which uplifts the soul and invigorates the body.

Lake of Sils

The Swiss National Park, the Munster Valley and the Maloja Pass happen to be near the Lake of Sils. The Bernina Pass leads one to southern realms.

Bernina Range

Right behind the snow of the Bernina Range lie the towns which stoke our hedonistic tendencies – the romantic Puschlav and the wine-producing Veltlin.

One can keep flying over the Swiss Alps repeatedly but still come back with a feeling of partial fulfillment and dissatisfaction, because there is just so much on offer in the land of chocolates and cheese!

(Photographs used here are from a book gifted to me by a close friend)

(Related Posts:

https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2015/08/09/flying-over-the-swiss-alps

https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2013/10/25/a-brand-called-switzerland)

Read Full Post »