This taxidermied deer has been completely transformed through the artist’s use of variably sized “PixCell” beads, a term he invented. PixCell is a portmanteau word combining the idea of a “cell” with that of a “pixel,” the smallest unit of a digital image. Whether intentionally or unintentionally on the artist’s part, PixCell-Deer#24 resonates with a type of religious painting known as a Kasuga Deer Mandala, which features a deer—the messenger animal of Shinto deities—posed similarly with its head turned to the side, and with a round sacred mirror on its back. For painters of the Rinpa school, the deer was depicted often as a companion of ancient sages and had auspicious or poetic associations.

Fantastic.

Buddhism Along the Silk Road.  A tiny show (in one room) of sculpture drawn from areas that are so off limits or so destroyed that this art recalls some of the furthest corners of our planet.  We were alone except for an elderly, infirm couple who shared the show with us.  They had travelled the Khyber Pass, had visited Kizil, knew Ghandara and were trying to retrace their lives in these objects.  I felt for them, envied them, admired them.

American Design on the first floor.  Completely different and upbeat.  Irreverent, fun, laughable some of it.  Loved this chair though my friend thought it must be terribly uncomfortable.

And then a gorgeous hallway of ten or twelve masterpieces of textile art, all from Indonesia.  This is an art form I am familiar with, have collected, and adore.  Batik from all over the archipelago and the Met, as conservative and stately as it is, has a tiny show of masterpieces.  Takes your breath away.

10:20AM…

Everyone talks about special access.  If you get up early enough, almost anything is special access. If you miss the opening hour, almost everything is special.