Ariana Maki
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arianam.bsky.social
Ariana Maki
@arianam.bsky.social
1.3K followers 450 following 200 posts
Himalayan & South Asian art history, Bhutan, Tibet, Buddhist art & ritual. Fulbright Scholar (2x) & NEH-Mellon Fellow. Also likes: decentering the canon, digital humanities, open access, Pictured Rocks. lifeofthebuddha.org | bhutan.virginia.edu
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arianam.bsky.social
Aurora never cease to amaze, enthrall, and exhilarate…thanks, solar flare. How lovely.

#aurora
Aurora with lime green burst at left next to a violet-pink flare, diffuse mint across the rest of the sky. Low clouds in front of a curvilinear bright green, and muted purples across the upper part of the frame. Bright upward flare of green aurora Pink, purple, and green pillars across a mint and jade background. A house and trees are visible on the horizon
November 12, 2025 at 5:52 AM
arianam.bsky.social
Thinking a lot about karma and opportunities to witness it ripening…

Thus, #ThangkaTuesday features the Wheel of Becoming (Bhavachakra; སྲིད་པའི་འཁོར་ལོ།) which illustrates #Buddhist ideas of cause & effect, realms of rebirth, aka samsara.

📷: Natl Gallery Prague via HAR

#himalaya #buddhistart #karma
A Buddhist painting centered on a large circle divided into six sections like spokes of a wheel. In each section are small figures, human, animal, and various non-humans. At the center are representations of poisons and their effects. The diagram is superimposed on the front of a humanoid figure with bulging eyes and a fanged mouth.
July 29, 2025 at 6:08 AM
arianam.bsky.social
Another site doing things with AI that none of their users want—this time academia.edu making AI-generated “podcasts” about our scholarship…

#AcademicSky
A person wearing a plaid skirt and black sweater stands with their back against the wall, labeled “me”, facing them is another person wearing similar clothing but with the addition of black tights. The second person is labeled “Any Company”. They are standing so that they are viewed from behind, and are holding a tuba up on their shoulder so that its bell obscures the first person’s face, seemingly swallowing them. The tuba is labeled “AI”. Personal note: AI is a an energy hungry hallucination-prone bullshit machine being forced on us by desperate VC d bags and tech bros who want to recoup their investments. AI makes us dumber.
June 25, 2025 at 2:27 PM
arianam.bsky.social
This is horrid. Open access is a gift and the ideal, but if academia dot edu is doing this, I’m likely to tap out. Maybe direct Academia users to our personal or professional sites, if either have the ability to host files?
A person wearing a plaid skirt and black sweater stands with their back against the wall, labeled “me”, facing them is another person wearing similar clothing but with the addition of black tights. The second person is labeled “Any Company”. They are standing so that they are viewed from behind, and are holding a tuba up on their shoulder so that its bell obscures the first person’s face, seemingly swallowing them. The tuba is labeled “AI”. Personal note: AI is a an energy hungry hallucination-prone bullshit machine being forced on us by desperate VC d bags and tech bros who want to recoup their investments. AI makes us dumber.
June 25, 2025 at 2:22 PM
arianam.bsky.social
#ThangkaTuesday transatlantic edition. It’s wheels up from Bhutan & this Yeshe Tsogyal keeps coming to mind—her gorgeous garments, especially the subtle striping on her wrap, and the adornments in her hair. Simply sublime!

📷: me, pvt collection, Bhutan
#himalaya #himalayanart #bhutan #buddhistart
Detail from a Himalayan Buddhist painting, showing a seated woman wearing a colorful green top, blue outer garment, and red trousers with gold details.
June 17, 2025 at 8:35 AM
arianam.bsky.social
#ThangkaTuesday was on hiatus—now back with this beauty from the newly opened Wangduechholing Palace Museum in #Bhutan. It took us a while, but we think we know which Je Khenpo it is. (18th!) Thanks to the WPM team for the guided tour & invitation to speak.

#buddhistart #himalaya #fulbright
Traditional Bhutanese Buddhist painting, vertical format, focused on a large scale human teacher wearing red & orange robes and a red hat, surrounded by other Buddhist teachers and deities shown in smaller scale.
June 11, 2025 at 10:25 AM
arianam.bsky.social
Belated #ThangkaTuesday entry comin’ in hot with a tiny detail of three cave-dwelling, red-robed yogis propitiating a rather remarkable phallus (man? spirit?)

#himalaya #buddhistart #bhutaneseart
Detail of a painting showing three Buddhist practitioners, seated cross-legged, wearing red robes, and holding musical instruments and offerings. They are all looking at a being with two arms and legs, facial features on its torso, and a huge spurting phallus where a human head would generally be located.
May 21, 2025 at 7:49 AM
arianam.bsky.social
Some of the quotes are bonkers. And the terminology!

“archaeological discoveries”
“excavated”
“uncovered”
“their discovery”
“the find”

📷 : (c) the limitless talent that is @effinbirds.com
A linear graphic of a stork alighting upward and to the right, seeming to fly away from three lines of text in a serif font that read “nopety” “nopety” “nope” copyright of @effinbirds.com
May 4, 2025 at 1:54 PM
arianam.bsky.social
From the Yum Chenmo above to the trio of figures below, this Dorje Sempa yab yum is atypical. At least 2 artists contributed, with a steadier hand rendering the main deity pair as compared to the flanking Kagyu & Drukpa Kagyu lineage figures.

📷: NMB

#ThangkaTuesday #himalaya #bhutan #buddhistart
A Bhutanese traditional vertical format painting of Buddhist deities and masters. The main figures, a deity pair, are largest in scale at center and are flanked by a series of smaller lineage figures. A yellow seated deity is above their heads, and a buddha, a bodhisattva, and a meditational deity are below.
April 29, 2025 at 1:58 PM
arianam.bsky.social
Generosity is the theme of this #ThangkaTuesday. This charming Vajradhara (རྡོ་རྗེ་འཆང་།), Holder of the Indestructible, is in a private collection shown to me years ago. I adore its simplicity & beauty, and that little extra head tilt. My gratitude to those who have shown me so much.

#himalaya #bhutan
Two hands hold up a small embroidered thangka for the camera. The fabric ground is black and torn in places, while the figure, stitched in golden thread, depicts a cross-legged, two-armed, crowned deity sitting on top of a lotus.
April 22, 2025 at 2:32 PM
arianam.bsky.social
Maybe more mantras will help

#bhutan #himalaya
April 17, 2025 at 5:32 PM
arianam.bsky.social
While his practice seems to be sticking around (wonder why?), one that peaked and faded was Parnashavari (ལོ་མ་གྱོན་མ།), the leaf-clad deity associated with #healing epidemics & disease, whose image hung at the entrance to Bhutan's main hospital.

📷: L: Gyantse Kumbum, me
R: Rubin Museum of Art via HAR
Sculpture of a six-armed yellow deity in a small shrine. A red flame halo surrounds her as she stands on a lotus base with her right leg bent at the knee and her left knee down, such that her left heel is raised up at her midline. A Himalayan Buddhist vertical format painting with the same half-kneeling figure at large scale in the center. Two members of her retinue, one red and one black and both smaller in scale, appear below her, their bodies in similar positions. At bottom center is a six armed male protector figure. Above the main image's head is a small Buddhist monk wearing a yellow hat and robes. Clouds and lotus flowers appear across the background of the upper half the painting, while the midground and foreground includes foliage, animal life, and auspicious imagery.
March 31, 2025 at 5:44 PM
arianam.bsky.social
Since 2020, I've noticed more images of & initiations for Black Manjushri (འཇམ་དབྱངས་ནག་པོ།), a form of the #Buddhist bodhisattva of wisdom believed to help those experiencing #anxiety, depression, or other disturbances in their mental state.

#himalaya #thangkatuesday
📷: Zanabazar Museum
A small painting of a dark blue male deity wearing a red garment on his lower body. He's sitting cross legged "lotus style", wherein the top of each foot rests against the calf of the opposite leg so that the soles of his feet point skyward. Below him is a red lotus and a golden "halo" of light appears behind his body, while another, smaller, flame-edged halo emerges from his shoulders and encircles around his head. His right arm extends out at shoulder level, his hand grasping the handle of a vajra-hilted sword that he brandishes above him. In his left hand is the stem of a lotus, bends up and to the right, terminating in a pink bloom that holds aloft a rectangular traditional Himalayan Buddhist book.
March 31, 2025 at 5:44 PM
arianam.bsky.social
This timeline cleanse brought to you by Drukyel Dzong in Paro.

#bhutan 🇧🇹
In the foreground are terraced fields prepared for upcoming spring planting. At midground, a bright white fortress with red and golden roofing has its upper walls punctuated with wooden framed windows. Surrounding the building are tall trees, and to the left, a series of family houses dot the hillside. Tall mountains, some snow covered and above the tree line, expand the scene further. A mostly cloudy sky includes a peek of blue, and the light reflected through the clouds makes the white fortress seem to shine slightly.
March 27, 2025 at 9:21 AM
arianam.bsky.social
And, because I feel like my eyes are about to hemorrhage with every doomscroll, here are some bonus bloody Buddhist eyes and anguished expressions.

Double bonus scary creepy crawly demon dude on the left.

📷: Tang Museum (L); Williams College Museum of Art (R)

#Himalaya #Buddhistart #Tibetanart
Detail of the proper right foot of a Buddhist deity, trampling on top of a personified obstacle that is lying partly face down, his head being crushed by the instep of the figure above. A tiny dark demon climbs up from below to further torment the figure being squished. Part of a severed head garland shows five hirsute heads, most grey in color from desiccation, some biting their lower lips in anguish, and one on the far right that looks comparatively tickled to be there. A painting of a dark blue Buddhist deity, cropped to show only the lower torso and part of the proper right leg. Snake ornaments and a golden necklace hang around the deity's neck, and a tiger skin is jauntily tied around his waist. Also visible are parts of a severed elephant skin being worn as a cape, as well as a severed head garland showing freshly severed (pinkish) and decomposing (grey and blue) heads. Each head is bleeding from the eyes and neck, like most sane Americans feel like doing every time they read the news or check their 401(k)s.
March 11, 2025 at 11:17 AM
arianam.bsky.social
Among my favorites are these two mustachioed fellows, who, in my professional opinion, are 100% sneaking a high five whilst underfoot, much to the amusement of the three severed heads above.

📷: detail of Tandin Marpo thangka; Lobsang Norbu, Nat'l Museum of #Bhutan

#Bhutaneseart #ego #Buddhistart
Two bright red feet adorned with jewelry and snake ornaments are visible; these belong to a Himalayan Buddhist deity. Below each foot are two human males, one prone and one supine. The two supine figures face one another and each stretch out one arm as if to be demonstrating anguish, however, their vaguely smiling expressions, along with those on the three severed heads above, equally support a reading of the gestures as an attempt at a high five. I will not be dissuaded from this possible source of joy and amusement. And yes, I'm a professional art historian.
March 11, 2025 at 11:17 AM
arianam.bsky.social
How to paint the overcoming of ego? In #Himalayan #Buddhism, vanquished ego & other obstacles to achievement can appear as a garland of severed & decaying heads strung on entrails, or as figures being trampled underfoot...

📷: Loeb (L) & Tang Museum (R)

#ThangkaTuesday #Tibetanart #Buddhistart
Detail of a painting showing garland of severed and decaying heads encircling the lower half of a blue deity, who also wears jewelry and snake ornaments. The figure's feet stand in the ballet first position atop a personified obstacle, a male lying on his back with an anguished expression. Detail of a blue ox pressed atop, and likely forcefully copulating with, a prone human figure with a dismayed expression on his face. The ox is the vehicle of the deity pair that stands atop it, and the human represents the subjugation of obstacles. A lotus base atop a rocky outcropping appears below.
March 11, 2025 at 11:17 AM
arianam.bsky.social
Torma have many forms & functions, identifiable through their specific shapes, colors, and details. Generally made from flour and water, torma are decorated with colored butter. They're used to appease, honor, and beautify, as well as repel obstacles & serve as effigies.

📷: Me, Punakha, Bhutan
A Buddhist monk is seated cross-legged on the floor in front of a low table that is covered with colorful ritual sculptures made out of flour, dough, and butter. He is rolling a bit of colored butter between his fingers about to add it to the sculpture in front of him, which is about three feet high.
March 9, 2025 at 5:40 AM
arianam.bsky.social
In #Himalayan #Buddhism, compassion doesn't always cut it, especially for stubborn obstacles. In this mural, a Buddhist master flings a blazing ritual sculpture (torma; གཏོར་མ་) toward the enemies, who are in turn peppered with a rain of fiery daggers from the sky.

📷: Me, Paro, Bhutan
#buddhistart
Bhutanese mural showing a figure wearing a black hat and dark blue robes holding a blazing object on a tray, while nearby red-robed monks play ritual horns and drums. They stand on an outcropping, the other side of which are warriors trying to attack but being assailed by flaming daggers hurtling from the sky.
March 9, 2025 at 5:40 AM
arianam.bsky.social
Students (and I) revel in the details—the eponymous endless light emanating from the Buddha Öpakmé, the raining gems, instruments indicating endless music, and the throngs of beings reborn there to listen to teachings that resound throughout the heaven realm.

#buddhistart #tibetanart #dewachen
A golden Buddha seated on a lotus throne and surrounded by successive circles representing light emanating from his body. In front are tables of ritual objects and sumptuous offerings. The skies are raining flowers, gems, amd musical instruments, Buddhas teach amongst clouds, and a mountain range is dotted with auspicious symbols. Throngs of human and non-human figures are arranged facing toward the central Buddha, their hands in gestures of respect as they listen to the teachings.
March 4, 2025 at 5:57 PM
arianam.bsky.social
Escapism is the word of the day for today’s #ThangkaTuesday. Sick of/from samsara, #Buddhists can turn practice to one of several Pure Lands. Rebirth there means enlightenment is guaranteed, so matter how long it takes.

I often teach this work from the Met showing the Land of Great Bliss (2004.139)
An elaborate painting of a Buddhist heaven realm with a large Buddha seated at center, surmounted by a tree full of sumptuous offerings of musical instruments and flowers, as well as throngs of devotees.
March 4, 2025 at 5:57 PM
arianam.bsky.social
ལོ་གསར་བཀྲིས་བདེ་ལགས། Happy New Year!

May the Year of the Wood Snake bring joy, good health, and happiness in abundance.

📷: Detail of a thangka of Tsepakme, Williams College Museum of Art (M.2024.22.11)
Detail from a Tibetan painting showing two phoenix near light blue water. On the other side of the water are heaps of round, colorful, stylized gems and other precious offerings, along with lotuses.
February 28, 2025 at 3:05 AM
arianam.bsky.social
Bonus Buddhist lions: some of the sculpted versions that usually appear in throne backs serve serious style (and sass). Look at them!

To me, 1:1 correlation with Beyoncé's Single Ladies. Try to tell me I'm wrong.

#buddhism #beyonce
Mixed metal sculpted lion standing on its back legs, right forepaw on right hip, and left forepaw up in the air bent at the elbow as if holding an invisible tray and waiting tables. Swirling fur gives extra dynamism to its tail. Sculpted female lion standing on its back paws, also posing with right forepaw balance on an exaggerated outthrust hip. Left forepaw is up near its head, while its face has wide staring eyes and an open mouth. From above its tush unfurls a swirling, flame-like tail. Three long-limbed slender women wearing 6" heels and bathing suit cut bodysuits that emphasize their hips and legs. Their right hands are on their hips and their left arms are bent at the elbow and hands outstretched.
February 25, 2025 at 6:42 PM
arianam.bsky.social
Lions, or more specifically, the mythical white bodied, blue-maned Himalayan snow lion, appears under different deities, helping to convey the sacred beings as they go about their business.

For example, #wealth deity Namtose (རྣམ་ཐོས་སྲས།). Lovin' the lion's blue beard.

📷: Private collection, via HAR
Detail of a white snow lion with full fluffy malachite and lapis colored locks, with matching eyebrows, ankle fur, mustache, and beard. Vertical format Tibetan painting of a wealth deity showing a yellow figure on the back of a white snow lion. Surrounding are small niches of human, non-human, and divine figures. The composition is predominantly dark blue and red.
February 25, 2025 at 6:42 PM
arianam.bsky.social
#ThangkaTuesday inspo: Tibetan equivalents of #Medieval goth manuscript lions.

Some paintings of Buddhas & teachers have lions in the thrones, referencing the Buddha Shakyamuni (Lion of the Sakya Clan)

#Buddhistart #Himalaya

📷: L: Detail, Drakpa Gyatso's throne
R: Detail, Menlha's throne
via HAR
Detail of a painting showing the detail of a Buddhist throne, made of multicolored lotus petals, under which are geometric forms of the throne structure. A small white snow lion with bulgy eyes and pert tail occupies one portion of the throne base, perhaps pondering his fate as he stares, unseeing, over his right front leg. A blue gem with stylized flames is in the space nearby. A detail of a snow lion throne element from a Tibetan painting. The lion, mouth agape, stands and looks up toward the sky. Its bushy black eyebrows give Eugene Levy a run for his money.
February 25, 2025 at 6:42 PM