Living Images

In the exhibition “Living Images” at the Museum of East Asian Art Cologne, you can explore the fascinating interplay of art and ritual in the religious practices of China, Japan and Korea. Until spring 2027, the impressive exhibits invite you to immerse yourself in the spiritual world of Buddhism. The exhibition highlights the central role that artworks play in significant ceremonies. Ritual objects such as vajra sceptres and bells are used to channel spiritual energies.

Special exhibits, including a 12th-century Japanese Vairocana Buddha and a Korean hanging scroll depicting a King of Hell, vividly illustrate the ritual dimension. The “Pure Land School” and its simplified approach to worship through invocation offer an accessible introduction for a wide audience. More complex ceremonies, such as the Bulbokjang ceremony, highlight the Korean tradition of consecrating Buddhist images. You will also discover how everyday cleansing and meditation rituals accompany the pursuit of enlightenment. The exhibition transports you into a world in which art, religion and ritual exist in harmony.