Hands On with the Interactive Cosmic Buddha

a small replica of a partial buddha sculpture stands at the end of a tilted table with detail 3d prints of parts of the sculpture and a screen above.

Ongoing

Interact with a replica of a sixth-century Chinese Buddha! Visitors can touch a quarter-scale replica of the actual statue and hear information about the detailed narrative illustrations that cover its surface. Adjacent tactile slabs offer audio descriptions of important Buddhist stories on death and rebirth, paradise, and the future that are featured on the sculpture. This universally accessible installation is on the B2 level of the Sackler Gallery.

The initiative was made possible by a grant from the Smithsonian Accessibility Innovation Fund awarded by the Accessibility Office.

The limestone sculpture that inspired this interactive installation is on view in gallery 17 of the Freer Gallery. Learn more about it here.