The Department of is pleased to announce that David Ni was awarded the Freedman Award for Undergraduate Research in . David is a junior majoring in Architecture and minoring in and Art History. David will use funds from the Freedman Award to do research in Ithaca and New York City during the Spring 2022 semester. He plans to write a research paper and design an exhibit, tentatively titled, "Journey through the Himalayas: Tangkas and Buddhism," that will bring together Cornell’s, the Namgyal Monastery’s, and other Tangka connoisseur’s collections with the goal of furthering study and interest in Tangka.
David describes his project below:
My research will be centered on the investigation of Tangka paintings and their significance to Buddhist Himalayan cultural identity, the rituals, and artistic intuitions that have become inseparable from its production and reproduction. Conducted through interviews and research trips, my inquiries into Buddhist philosophy, culture, and artistic traditions will be guided by engagement with Buddhist monasteries, art institutes, and professors. Having grown up in a Buddhist family, I hope to further understand my heritage through the infusion of my religious experiences with my academic pursuits in anthropology, art history, and architecture.
February 3 update from David: I was able to consult with Dungse Lama Pema of the Thrangu monastery in Vancouver regarding what he thought the importance of Tangkas are to Buddhism and some of the fundamental principles of Buddhism.
The Freedman Award was funded by an endowment established by Randy ‘75 and Howard ‘74, MBA ‘75 Freedman. The Freedman Awards support undergraduate students in undertaking anthropological research. The Department of is thankful for the generosity and support from Randy and Howard Freedman. Many students have received the Freedman Award over the years, making it possible for them to dig deeper into their research.
