Nerd post: San Francisco Asian Art Musum

If you're uninterested in Asian Buddhist art, just skip this post; this post is more for me as I'm just jotting down notes from some of my favorite artworks I saw during my recent visit to the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. Yes, it's a nerdy post indeed!

Since on my trip and being back home, I've been to quite a few museums and exhibits and it's really been a joy. I am one of those odd people who like to go there alone and spend a few hours just submerged in the artwork and historical artifacts. I also take my camera with me and snap my favorite ones (given that I am permitted to take pictures) or take notes and then look them up after.

I've always loved museums as a child but haven't really had the time to go to a lot of them during my teenage and 20s. As I enter into my 30s, I'm amazed about how nerdy I'm getting. I'm reading a lot more books, studying a lot more (although that's by default since I'm a grad student), and I'm attending more nerdy seminars like conferences on environmental issues. It's definitely a change from my Tokyo days in which my free time mostly consisted of clubbing, drinking, shopping, did I mention drinking?

 Vajra Tara sculpture from India 1075-1200. 

Such elaborate sculptures and carvings on all surfaces,

 you can stare at it for hours and not get bored

 Simhavaktra deity from China around 18th century. 

The pose and expression was intriguing and had an lasting impression

White Tara from Nepal from the 15th century. 

The Dalai Lama calls her "the wisdom, compassion, and enlightened 

activity of all Buddhas in the form of a goddess". 

I like this since she has such a soft and graceful complexion on her face;

 very peaceful indeed

 Dancing Ganesha from 18th Century Tibet; 

As an avid Ganesha collector, I couldn't help but snap the picture 

of a dancing one! The ones that I've usually seen are those 

that are in sitting form so this one was definitely an eye-opener

 Buddha Shakamuni as an ascetic from 20th century China. 

I really like this because it's made from jade

 so not only is this a highly-skilled master piece

 but it's a wonder how the sculptor made the 

expression of Shakamuni so full of warmth and peaceful. 

Buddhist deity, Ragaraja or Aizen Myoo from 17th century Japan. 

I'm also a fan of Ragaraja who is a deity of love. 

It's such a contrast from Western depiction of love

 which are usually of women, angel, or cupids. 

There's such a fierceness to it yet at the same time, 

they don't look too scary.

 I suppose it's this paradox that attracts me to them. 

I've taken European History both in high school and college but Asian history has always been more fascinating; I suppose there's a bias that the history directly relates to my ancestors but to me it always seems more rich in many ways. Buddhist art has been a big part of Asian history and art and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco has one of the best collections. I also like the fact that the museum is much more affordable. One of the things that shocked me was that museums in San Francisco are all getting renovated and so are their prices! Gone are the days where I used to go in for free on school field trips; I can't believe some museums in the city cost around $25-39 albeit it must certainly be worth it for that price! But be rest assured, the AAM is under half the price and just as fascinating.

Asian Art Museum
Address: 200 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102 (across from City Hall)
Hours: 10am-5pm, Closed Mon 
Tickets: $15 (general), $10 (students, senior citizens)
**It's free on the first Suns of every month!