Discover the fascinating world of Arakanese Buddhist art, from the sacred Mahamuni Buddha and the cult of Kassapa, Gautama and Maitreya to the distinctive bronzes and fortress-like temples of Mrauk-U. Shaped by centuries of trade, warfare and cultural exchange, Arakan developed one of the most original traditions of Buddhist sculpture in Myanmar.

The Buddha is not a portrait of the historical Siddhartha Gautama, but an idealised representation of human perfection. Discover how different cultures across Asia transformed the human body into an image of enlightenment, beauty, serenity and spiritual perfection.