A Piece of Asia in Bogota: The Museum Bringing Asian Art Closer to Colombia
- Lizeth Ortega Cubillosjournalist and digital communication specialist
This year, Colombia’s first museum of Asian art opened its doors, dedicated exclusively to the preservation and dissemination of the art and traditions of the East. It is the Germán Puyana García Museum of Oriental Art, which holds a donated collection of 402 pieces from 25 countries. It is located in Bogotá at the Minuto de Dios Corporation.
Andrea Walker, cultural director of Minuto de Dios, spoke with the Social Research Center about this new space and emphasized that one of the venue’s goals is to bring local audiences closer to these cultures.
How did this museum come about?
According to Walker, some time ago Dr. Germán Puyana García, a renowned architect from Santander, Colombia, had the opportunity to meet Father Diego Jaramillo Cuartas, president of the Minuto de Dios Organization. During their meeting, they had the chance to talk about a collection of Asian art that Puyana had managed to gather on his dozens of trips around the world and especially to the East.
Walker said that, as Puyana made those trips, he collected outstanding pieces of art from the East, including pieces from India, Japan, China, and Nepal, among others. “Finally, in those conversations, Dr. Puyana offered to donate that collection to Minuto de Dios, which has always safeguarded heritage and worked to expand culture so that everyone has access to it,” she said.
During the inauguration of this museum, Father Diego Jaramillo thanked the architect and stressed the importance of these spaces: “I don’t have the right words to express my gratitude to you, Germán. Welcome to this house that you have founded—not in its bricks, but in its art. Your name will continue to be preserved at Minuto de Dios for a fundamental contribution to culture.”
These pieces are important because they clearly reflect the work of artists and carvers from the East. For example, there are figures of goddesses carved in wood, as well as deities. “There are even pieces carved from elephant tusks; at the time, it was permitted. They are unique and wonderful pieces,” she added.
Walker detailed that the collection is made up of more than 400 pieces, but that currently about 180 are on display and the rest will be shown little by little.
For its part, the Friends of India Association highlighted this type of initiative on its website: “The opening of this museum not only safeguards a universal artistic heritage, but also becomes a beacon of knowledge for students, researchers, and lovers of Asian art in Colombia,” it reads.
It is worth mentioning that Germán Puyana García is widely recognized as one of the most prominent Indologists in Colombia. His deep connection with India led him, more than 40 years ago, to be one of the great driving forces in the leadership of the Friends of India Association, consolidating the foundations of our community.
The Germán Puyana García Museum of Oriental Art is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It is located in the El Minuto de Dios neighborhood in Bogotá, and admission is completely free for the entire community.
Andrea Walker, cultural director of Minuto de Dios, spoke with the Social Research Center about this new space and emphasized that one of the venue’s goals is to bring local audiences closer to these cultures.
How did this museum come about?
According to Walker, some time ago Dr. Germán Puyana García, a renowned architect from Santander, Colombia, had the opportunity to meet Father Diego Jaramillo Cuartas, president of the Minuto de Dios Organization. During their meeting, they had the chance to talk about a collection of Asian art that Puyana had managed to gather on his dozens of trips around the world and especially to the East.
Walker said that, as Puyana made those trips, he collected outstanding pieces of art from the East, including pieces from India, Japan, China, and Nepal, among others. “Finally, in those conversations, Dr. Puyana offered to donate that collection to Minuto de Dios, which has always safeguarded heritage and worked to expand culture so that everyone has access to it,” she said.
During the inauguration of this museum, Father Diego Jaramillo thanked the architect and stressed the importance of these spaces: “I don’t have the right words to express my gratitude to you, Germán. Welcome to this house that you have founded—not in its bricks, but in its art. Your name will continue to be preserved at Minuto de Dios for a fundamental contribution to culture.”
These pieces are important because they clearly reflect the work of artists and carvers from the East. For example, there are figures of goddesses carved in wood, as well as deities. “There are even pieces carved from elephant tusks; at the time, it was permitted. They are unique and wonderful pieces,” she added.
Walker detailed that the collection is made up of more than 400 pieces, but that currently about 180 are on display and the rest will be shown little by little.
For its part, the Friends of India Association highlighted this type of initiative on its website: “The opening of this museum not only safeguards a universal artistic heritage, but also becomes a beacon of knowledge for students, researchers, and lovers of Asian art in Colombia,” it reads.
It is worth mentioning that Germán Puyana García is widely recognized as one of the most prominent Indologists in Colombia. His deep connection with India led him, more than 40 years ago, to be one of the great driving forces in the leadership of the Friends of India Association, consolidating the foundations of our community.
The Germán Puyana García Museum of Oriental Art is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It is located in the El Minuto de Dios neighborhood in Bogotá, and admission is completely free for the entire community.
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