MFA Opens New Gallery For Indian And Southeast Asian Art

BOSTON - The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston has opened two new galleries dedicated to Indian and Southeast Asian art.

The MFA's collection of art from India, Korea, Sri Lanka and other Asian countries is vast, but according to curator Laura Weinstin, the art on display in the new gallery is "kind of the best of the best."

For her the MFA's new galleries are a way to present about 150 ancient pieces in an updated, well-lit setting.

One of the rarest objects is a 5th century mural fragment from a Buddhist cave in India.

"The MFA purchased the piece at an auction in London in 1921 for 1,000 pounds," Weinstin explained.

What is it worth today?

"There's no way you could put a price on an object like this today," Weinstin said, then assured me the Indian government approves of the MFA's ownership of the piece.

The fragment is the only section of the mural that exists outside the original site.