Within the Gainesville community, there is a great diversity of culture and ideas. Through the University you can find people from all over the world in the same block. This provides benefits to both students traveling from afar and those from the community, who now have the opportunity to experience foreign cultures right in their own city. This diversity is important to allow us to see from other points of view and understand the world. By having these perspectives, we learn about conflicts and issues outside of our community, as well as ways we can help those cultures. Of course, the Harn Museum collection has works that can help us see these other points of view. The Harn's global collection reflects the diversity of the community by exposing us to many artifacts from a variety of locations. These works can show us national symbolism, religious beliefs, the hardships that groups of people have gone through, the conflicts of other cultures, and even give us a personal connection and insight into the people who make the works themselves. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay The Harn Museum's Asian Collections feature a variety of collections including paintings, pottery, and even wood carvings. The first of these pieces I will cover is “Mount Fuji form Miho, Spring”, a work from the Inside Outside collection. This Japanese piece depicts a traditional woodcut, in ink on paper canvas. It depicts Mount Fuji from afar, along a black beach and behind a rolling mountainside, emphasizing the natural beauty of the landscape rather than the people depicted in the portrait. This focus on nature, as well as the method used to create this work, is common for traditional pieces like this. This design is similar to those used for pieces such as The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai. In comparison, these works are both woodcuts focusing on the majesty and power of nature rather than the human element (Julyan HE Cartweight and Hisami Nakamura, 2009). However, another element common to these works is that Mount Fuji is found in both, residing in the background of the works. Another work in the collection, “Viridescence,” also focuses on the natural appearance of the world and emphasizes mountainous regions. Indeed, mountains, and more particularly Mount Fuji, are a sacred symbol in Japan. Beyond that, it is a source of national pride (Michael Ray, 2019). “Viridescence” and “Mount Fuji from Miho, Spring” integrate Japanese culture into them and help show some of it to those who view the works. In addition, they also present plays such as "Buddhistic Lion Group", which focuses on the religious aspects of China. While symbols like Mount Fuji expose us to Japanese culture, pieces like this are just as important. Rather than showing us the symbolism of a culture, he tries to show us the religious aspects of it. In Asian cultures, religious symbols play an important role. Lions are proud, majestic, often seen as a symbol of royalty, protection, wisdom and pride. In Buddhism, lions are the sons of the Buddha, working in this world and renouncing happiness until all sentient beings are free from suffering (Jampa Choskyi, 1988). In Buddhist culture, lions resemble the way Christians see [image:] Jesus Christ, he came in thisworld as a sacrifice in order to be crucified for our sins. Of course, China is not the only country with such religious statues. The Congo male ancestral figure is an example of how the Beembe people believe the dead can help those still alive. Figures like this would have been created in honor of the deceased, displaying both their rank and profession based on what they held. According to the Harn website, this character could have been a leader or a doctor, since he holds in his hands a knife and a bottle used in medicine. This figure would have been fashioned in a flattering way to respect the dead, as do most cultures with effigies of this style. However, the Beembe people believe that the spirits of their ancestors will help protect them from witchcraft, and they often place the relics of the deceased inside their effigy (Stanley Museum of Art, 2014). Works like this expose us to culture in a different way than the pieces I described previously. Although there is always a direct cultural connection, I could tell just by looking at these pieces that they had a religious connotation. I knew that although the lion was symbolic in various ways, I had no idea of ​​its importance in Buddhism. By examining the background of both pieces, I discovered the connection between lions as divine entities and gained a deeper understanding of the belief system as a whole. The ancestral figure led me to investigate the importance of ancestors to the Beembe people. Although these works have superficial value, they can also tell us about the religions of the country of origin, which can lead to a better understanding than the average painting. Another branch of art relevant to the community is modernism, where works such as "The Lumberjack" appeared. Artist Robert Gwathmey grew up in a period of racial discrimination. He believed that art and social issues were inseparable, and he painted both white and black individuals while upholding his beliefs. Often using a style similar to stained glass paintings, he often depicts farmers or laborers in a dark, minimalist style (Caldwell Gallery, 2008). He used his works to advocate for equality, depicting black and white people in similar situations. Suzy Frelinghuysen also painted at this time. Using a cubist style, she painted more abstract paintings that featured everyday objects rather than people. She was the first woman to have a painting placed in the permanent collection of the AE Gallatin Museum of Living Art. Being a foundation of female artists in America, she was one of the first female painters. Both works are currently featured in the Harn “Modern Highlights” collection. These artists both pushed for equality with their art. In addition to supporting black rights with his art, Robert Gwathmey featured many African American role models. Using these role models, he often portrayed them as hard workers, showing the importance of African Americans in society. Suzy Frelinghuysen's work also reflects a changing era. As a woman artist, she would have encountered many obstacles, ranging from those who refused to license her works to those who simply did not believe that a woman could. However, the mere existence of this piece shows that she overcame everything she faced. While this doesn't show us a different race or ethnicity, it does show us a different perspective that hasn't always been as common in art. As one of the first female artists, sheset the bar high and defied expectations, allowing more female artists to follow. By presenting both works of art, the Harn Museum shows us the controversial early works that attempted to change ways of life. These works pushed the boundaries simply by existing, and by presenting them, Harn exposes us to very controversial views at the time, showing us the history of feminism and black rights. The Harn Museum also displays a variety of African artwork. Skunder Boghossian is originally from Ethiopia, where he acquired most of his artistic skills. This work was inspired by a trip to Africa, specially constructed from pieces of Uganda bark cloth, moter oid and sand. This piece is influenced by Ethiopian culture and iconography. The central circle is a cosmogram for many African cultures. It also shows Christian symbolism, showing a connection to Orthodox Christian churches and the Ethiopian saint Samuel of Waldebba. Another work on display at Harn is the Old Man's Cloth. El Anatsui is a Nigerian artist who has established himself as one of the most acclaimed artists. Old Man's Cloth is a metal sculpture constructed from bottle caps. It is inspired by ceremonial fabrics; however, it is made up of alcohol bottles that recall the history of alcohol imports and the colonial slave trade. This work seeks to bring together economic, historical and local politics and events into one piece. These pieces come from African American artists, but beyond that, they convey political messages about individual countries as well as society as a whole. They draw attention to African struggles and refer to both the history and culture of African countries. The fact that Harn is showing these works means that people are being exposed to this history. They see today the effects of the slave trade on Nigeria. They see how culture has not forgotten and what certain African cultures have become. A museum has much more than just paintings or sculptures. Indeed, everyday objects can be considered (and should be considered) art. These objects are vases but take the traditional term and turn it on its head. Each of these pieces comes from Japan and each is intended to be a means of sculptural expression (Alachua County Library, 2018). Although I have already discussed the historical importance and references that many of Harn's works present, these vases also have a different history. Tomani Tanaka, who had a translated quote on his page, said the following about his work: "Anger, happiness and other feelings are always mixed and swirling in my mind...I was thinking about how I should express the movements of my inner feelings that exist within me." It was her own description of her creative process, in which she explains that she put her own emotions and feelings into her work. These feelings and passions manifest themselves. Black Flame, aptly named for this passion, shows a dancing form that almost seems to move when you look at it. This piece not only shows part of Tanaka's cultural heritage, but also his inner person. This piece was intentionally designed to show one's inner being, beliefs and ideas. This piece is meant to show us not only a sample of Japanese culture, but also what it means to be Japanese. Matsui Koyo also uses his emotions and passions, but in a different way. Rather than incorporating it into his works, he strives to overcome his anxieties and find influence in the world around him. Despite this,.