Development of the buddhist sculpture galleries, 2009

The Robert H N Ho Family Foundation Gallery of Buddhist Sculpture

The V&A's collections of sculpture from Asia are among its greatest treasures. This suite of four rooms explore the images of the Buddha Sakyamuni, together with associated images of Bodhisattvas, guardians and monks. The displays also explore the spread of Buddhism from India throughout Asia and encourage the visitor to learn about the iconography and conventions of Asian images and to compare outstanding sculpture in diverse styles.

The galleries were created in 2009 in Rooms 17-20 west of the John Madejski Garden, thanks to a generous donation from the Robert H N Ho Family Foundation and has enabled the V&A's unrivalled holdings of Asian Buddhist Sculpture to be presented in a sympathetic, accesible and elegant setting. These installations complement the Museum's European Sculpture Galleries and create exciting opportunities for enjoying and understanding Asian sculpture in the V&A.

A New Acquisitions Gallery was created in the rooms adjacent to Rooms 17-20, presenting the newest additions to the V&A's collections to the public as well as a Visitor Centre where visitors can access information about events, courses, trails and activities, face-to-face with a member of V&A staff or via computer terminals and a studio gallery for small scale temporary displays.

Designer

The gallery designer was Adriana Ferlauto in the V&A's Design Department. She previously worked for Casson Mann Designers and her work includes the Churchill Museum at the Cabinet War Rooms and the Time Galleries at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich.