EVENT DETAILS

"Serendib: art & cultural exchange in Sri Lanka 600 BCE-600 CE" by LACMA's Julie Romain

This presentation is an overview of an upcoming exhibition of Sri Lankan art, focusing on the early material of the sixth century BCE to the sixth century CE. The art and material culture of Sri Lanka reflect a continuous process of cultural exchange as the island was a hub for maritime trade in the Indian ocean. This lecture traces this historical process through a wide range of artifacts and archaeological evidence, from Sassanian coins discovered at the ancient site of Ruhua to the massive Buddhist stupas of Anuradhapura, which led to the formation of local artistic traditions that are unique to the island.

Sponsored by the Department of Art History and the Jordan Center for Persian Studies