The Elephant and the Dragon
Faith and Morality in Asian Architecture
Nikhil Joshi
This talk is free. Registration (with $10 refundable deposit) required.
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This talk explores cultural exchange, adaptation, and evolution in architectural forms across Asia, with a particular focus on stupas, pagodas, toranas, and pailou. As Buddhism spread along trade routes in Central and East Asia, it transformed architectural styles, with regions adapting the stupa’s original form to local materials and symbolism.
The evolution of Indian stupas into Chinese pagodas exemplifies this syncretism, blending religious and artistic ideas while retaining core meanings. These architectural adaptations highlight the fluid boundaries of cultural and religious exchange across Asia, shaped by trade, religion, and dialogue between diverse civilisations.
Speaker
Nikhil Joshi is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Architecture at the National University of Singapore (NUS). His research interests include cultural heritage management, traditional building materials and techniques, and community participatory approaches.
Before joining NUS, Nikhil worked and taught in India, the UK, and Malaysia. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a recipient of the Lethaby Scholarship from the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, UK. His recent publications include Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya: Constructing Sacred Placeness, Deconstructing the “Great Case” of 1895 (2019) and Managing Change: Urban Heritage and Community Development in Historic Asian Cities (2018).
Moderator
Kevin Lam is Senior Curator of Chinese Art at the Asian Civilisations Museum. Before joining the museum, he played a key role in launching Tai Kwun Contemporary in Hong Kong, and worked at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, where he oversaw the design and contemporary art galleries. In addition to painting and calligraphy, Kevin is interested in Chinese decorative art and its connections with neighbouring cultures. He holds a PhD in art history from Northwestern University.
Image: Replica of the Sanchi stupa at White Horse Temple, Luoyang.
The ACM Conversations Lecture Series is generously supported by Dalio Philanthropies
