O/T Buddhists say rat art is insulting
AGC Gossip
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.
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