REPORT - OPENING CEREMONY OF THE
"BUDDHA: RADIANT AWAKENING"  EXHIBITION

"Today 10th November 2001 will be marked as an important day of the Art Gallery of NSW", this was a part of the opening remark of Mr Edmund Capon, Director of the Art Gallery.  He was not wrong at all. The exhibition was a major initiative that took several years in preparation. The ‘Buddha: Radiant Awakening’ Exhibition combined with the occasion of the World Buddhist Sangha Council - Executive Committee Conference promised to be the largest exposition of Buddhism ever seen in Australia.  Like everyone else, we were keen and very anxious to participate in this event, an event in which Buddhist Art was exhibited in such a prestigious place, right in the heart of the Sydney Art centre.

Buses lined up very early from 5.00pm at all of our accommodation venues : Phuoc Hue Temple, Campsie Hotel, Sunny Brook Hotel, and Avillion Hotel to take the WBSC’s executive members and their followers to the Gallery.  Special guests of the night included local artists and Buddhist communities from all over Australia. The Art Gallery was filled with more than 2000 guests that night. 

At the main hall, people eagerly waited for the exhibition to officially open.  Vegetarian food and drinks were served throughout the night. At 6.30pm sharp, immediately after the sound of Prajna Bells and Drums, the executive members of the WBSC - guests of honour for the ceremony - conducted a special Buddhist chanting.   

The Opening Ceremony was short but very spiritual, started by the familiar chanting "Namo Sakya Muni Buddha" in three different languages: Vietnamese, Chinese and Pali. A statement to the Most Venerables made by Mr. Edmund Capon stated that the blessing of the Maha Sangha to the Art Gallery was a blessing greater than the exhibition itself. The President of the WBSC, the Most Venerable Liao Chung started his official speech by welcoming everyone to the event. He thanked the Art Gallery of NSW’s effort in organising the major event at the same time as the World Buddhist Sangha Council Conference. The Conference this year he believed will be such a historic event as it was the first time such an important event took place in Australia.  He was pleased to know that for the next three months, the Buddhist artworks would be exhibited in such a prestigious place.  This would be a significant milestone for the Art Gallery and for members of the WBSC.

Then the most anticipated moment came, the Most Venerable Thich Phuoc Hue, President of The United Vietnamese Buddhist Congregation in Australia-New Zealand had the honour to declare the opening of the exhibition.  He again congratulated the Art Gallery for its efforts in bringing to Sydney invaluable Buddhist Art exhibitions from various part of the world, including Australia and Vietnam. 

"Buddhism has promoted peace and harmony," he said, hopefully the artworks in some way would reflect this fundamental philosophy. He believed that the exhibition in conjunction with a series of lectures and workshops to be held within the next three months by the Art Gallery would give additional and positive dimensions to people's way of life. 

The media and promotion for the event had been professionally conducted and many sponsors were involved. There was also the magnificent helping hands of volunteers and the local Buddhist communities from all over Australia who helped to organise this event. 

As the Director of the Gallery said, "For the next three months the Art Gallery will ultimately be a Buddhist centre for everyone to come and enjoy its wonderful arts.  Let the beautiful journey begin. Let's hope the artwork will last long in any one’s heart.  Let this contribute to the better understanding of the teaching of Buddha".

More than 120 artworks, modern and ancient, on loan from international and local collections made up the awe-inspiring "Buddha: Radiant Awakening" exhibition. It would be run in Sydney’s major gallery for four months to coincide with the WBSC Executive Conference.

Buddha : Radiant Awakening
Exhibition - The Art Gallery of New South Wales
Saturday November 10th,  at 6.30pm