Buddhist leaders want Bowers painting pulled
BeViet
CULTURE: Monks say the artwork is an affront to their faith.
June 29, 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------
CONTROVERSIAL:
'Rats Praying to Buddah' was painted by self-taught artist
Tin Trung Tran. Photo by The Register
-------------------------------------------------------------
Related story:
Hourly shuttle set up to deliver protesters
-----------------------------------------------------------
By MAI TRAN
The Orange County Register
Some Vietnamese-American Buddhist leaders are sending a letter
of protest to the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, saying it's
displaying a painting that offends their religion.
"Rats Praying to Buddah (sic)," a 1972 oil painting by self-taught
artist Tin Trung Tran, depicts seven rodents on hind legs, their
hands clasped in prayer, in front of Buddha.
Buddhist leaders say the work is a mockery of the faith.
Venerable Thich Nguyen Tri, a monk with the Bat Nha Temple in
Santa Ana, says the Buddhists will demonstrate if the painting
is not removed.
"They look at Buddhism as a joke," the monk said. " 'How can
anyone believe in the religion?' "
In the Vietnamese culture, rats are perceived as "dirty and the
lowest form of despicable animals," said Kinh-Luan Tran, an
attorney representing Vietnamese-Americans who are protesting
other paintings at the museum.
But Janet Baker, curator of Asian art for Bowers, said
"Rats Praying" is not a put-down.
"The Buddha revered all life forms — human and animals,"
Baker said. "The painting expresses that point."
Some agree.
"The mouse, or dog, or buffalo — all living creatures can
pray to the Buddha, who is compassionate," said Thich Man Giac,
head of Vietnamese Buddhist temple, Chua Phat Giao Viet Nam.
Protesters have been demonstrating in front of the Santa Ana
museum since Friday, the preview day of "A Winding River," 75
paintings from Vietnamese artists. The demonstrators say
several of the artworks represent communist propaganda.
viet...@my-deja.com
BeViet <BeViet...@newsguy.com> wrote:
> Buddhist leaders want Bowers painting pulled
> CULTURE: Monks say the artwork is an affront to their faith.
>
> June 29, 1999
> -------------------------------------------------------------
>
> CONTROVERSIAL:
> 'Rats Praying to Buddah' was painted by self-taught artist
> Tin Trung Tran. Photo by The Register
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------
> Related story:
> Hourly shuttle set up to deliver protesters
> -----------------------------------------------------------
>
> By MAI TRAN
> The Orange County Register
>
> Some Vietnamese-American Buddhist leaders are sending a letter
> of protest to the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, saying it's
> displaying a painting that offends their religion.
>
> "Rats Praying to Buddah (sic)," a 1972 oil painting by self-taught
> artist Tin Trung Tran, depicts seven rodents on hind legs, their
> hands clasped in prayer, in front of Buddha.
Hi ba'c BV,
I think I can interprete the idea of the painter.
What he "want to say" through his painting is that
the VCs (Rats) and their valets (seven rodents on
hind legs) are in desperated situations and have
to pray Buddha for salvation.
>
> Buddhist leaders say the work is a mockery of the faith.
>
> Venerable Thich Nguyen Tri, a monk with the Bat Nha Temple in
> Santa Ana, says the Buddhists will demonstrate if the painting
> is not removed.
>
> "They look at Buddhism as a joke," the monk said. " 'How can
> anyone believe in the religion?' "
>
> In the Vietnamese culture, rats are perceived as "dirty and the
> lowest form of despicable animals," said Kinh-Luan Tran, an
> attorney representing Vietnamese-Americans who are protesting
> other paintings at the museum.
>
> But Janet Baker, curator of Asian art for Bowers, said
> "Rats Praying" is not a put-down.
>
> "The Buddha revered all life forms — human and animals,"
> Baker said. "The painting expresses that point."
>
> Some agree.
>
> "The mouse, or dog, or buffalo — all living creatures can
> pray to the Buddha, who is compassionate," said Thich Man Giac,
> head of Vietnamese Buddhist temple, Chua Phat Giao Viet Nam.
>
> Protesters have been demonstrating in front of the Santa Ana
> museum since Friday, the preview day of "A Winding River," 75
> paintings from Vietnamese artists. The demonstrators say
> several of the artworks represent communist propaganda.
>
>
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NguaHoang
painting pulled
CULTURE: Monks say the artwork is an affront to
their faith.
June 29, 1999
By MAI TRAN
The Orange County Register
Some Vietnamese-American Buddhistleaders are sending a letter of
protest to the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art,saying it's displaying a
painting that offends their religion. "Rats Praying to Buddah (sic)," a
1972 oil painting by self-taught artist Tin Trung Tran, depicts seven
rodents on hind legs, their hands clasped in prayer, in front of
Buddha. Buddhist leaders say the work is a mockery of the faith.
Venerable Thich Nguyen Tri, a monk with the Bat Nha Temple in Santa
Ana, says the Buddhists will demonstrate if the painting is not
removed. "They look at Buddhism as a joke," the monk said. " 'How can
anyone believe in the religion?' " In the Vietnamese culture, rats are
perceived as "dirty and the lowest form of despicable animals," said
Kinh-Luan Tran, an attorney representing Vietnamese-Americans who are
protesting other paintings at the museum. But Janet Baker, curator of
Asian art for Bowers, said "Rats Praying" is not a put-down. "The
Buddha revered all life forms — human and animals," Baker said. "The
painting expresses that point." Some agree. "The mouse, or dog, or
buffalo — all living creatures can pray to the Buddha, who is
compassionate," said Thich Man Giac, head of Vietnamese Buddhist
temple, Chua Phat Giao Viet Nam. Protesters have been demonstrating in
front of the Santa Ana museum since Friday, the preview day of "A
Winding River," 75 paintings from Vietnamese artists. The demonstrators
say several of the artworks represent communist propaganda.
Register staff writer Anh Do contributed to this report.
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