NEW YORK — Ancient stone sculptures of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, a terrifically prancing Ganesh, hand-painted Noh robes from Japan—these are the fare at the Asia Society Museum's new show "A Passion for Asia: Rockefeller Family Collects," which offers a sampling of the remarkable collection amassed by three generations of Rockefellers who shared a passion for Asian religious objects.
John D. Rockefeller III founded the Asia Society, back in 1956, as a vehicle for fostering connection, learning and understanding between the Eastern and Western worlds. The showing of the Rockefeller collection is part of the celebration of the society's 50th anniversary—it effectively illustrates how profoundly moved the Rockefellers have been by Asian culture.
Commenting on the society's genesis, Dr. Vishaka Dessai, President of The Asia Society, said, "This is after World War II and the defeat of Japan… this is the time when one was not sure where China would come out with the Great Leap Forward. This is the time that JDR III said 'We need to know more about Asia.'"
Part of the show is a collection of photographs and memorabilia that tells the story of the Rockefellers' involvement with Asia. Original passports used to travel to China, photos with dignitaries, medals and gifts—they give one a feeling for the social obligation that the Rockefellers felt toward Asia, which started back in the 1800's.
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"When Rockefeller the First was just a clerk, back before the family made its fortune, he was already giving half his paycheck to fund missionaries in China," Dessai said.
Dessai feels that the collection amassed by the Rockefellers does not represent so much the desire to own beautiful and rare works of art so much as it is a testimony to the family's desire to surround themselves with windows back into the cultures that they'd fallen in love with—especially Abby "Babs" Rockefeller, wife of JDR II, who devoted a large room in their Mount Desert Island estate to her collection of Buddhist artwork. She even went so far as to keep temple incense burning for the statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
In fact, her sister Lucy Blanchette—who had quite the reputation as an incurable eccentric—confided in Babs that she was considering giving up being Baptist and switching to Buddhism. Never married and often traveling alone through the Asia, Aunt Lucy was famous in family circles for having been kidnapped by Chinese mercenaries. The story has it that she enjoyed herself.
Lucy and Babs shared a fascination with Japanese prints. The show includes two prints from Babs' collection—"Long-tailed Bird on a Branch of Flowering Plum" and "Dancing Swallows"—both by Ando Hiroshige (1797-1858).
Charles Rockefeller, a fifth generation Rockefeller from the John side, is appreciative of the legacy left by his ancestors. Not involved in Asia or the arts himself, he says the connection is still strong with his family. "The intent is still there, it's been passed down to us, but the resources of a different generation could accomplish much more."
(The show runs from Feb. 24 – Sept. 3 at The Asia Society Museum. Admission is $10. $7 for seniors and $5 for students. Admission is fee to those under 16)
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