The piece I chose from the Rubin is the hand drum (damani). It was used for rituals and was depicted in many of the paintings that we saw. The hand drum had two sides which symbolized the oneness of two aspects enlightenment. The drumming was the sound of “bliss of realizing the true nature of reality.” I chose the drum because of the intricate details that were carved into it. You can see skeletons and people surrounded by incredibly detailed patterns. What makes it more interesting is that this drum specifically is made from bone. I think it’s interesting how there is a large amount of skeleton looking people carved into the drum but how it is used to respect deities and to give offerings to them. Overall what drew me to this piece was the incredible detail put into such a small object.

-Julianne Patrina