A Thousand Words

Storytelling is an art form of long standing in many Asian cultures. Sacred and secular literature abounds in Persia, India, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia. Narrative traditions spread from one region to another through the movement of peoples in trade, migration, or conquest. Sacred texts, mythological epics, court poetry, and folktales were passed down through generations and and often across political or cultural boundaries. Spoken and written words have also been enhanced by visual imagery. Textiles, a universal medium that is easily transported, have long been a means of preserving and disseminating narrative.

Some of the works of art in this exhibition, drawn from the permanent collections of the Department of Costume and Textiles, depict an entire scene or scenes from a particular tale. Others may call to mind a poem or a chapter of a novel through a single symbol. The images themselves are a vehicle for communication, whether they carry a story for those who cannot read or suggest a wide range of associations to the literate.

Not all of the narratives displayed here have been identified at present. Asian literature is both wide-ranging and complex. Still, it is not always necessary to know the story in order to understand the thoughts and emotions suggested by the image.