Mirrored Portraits: The Sculptural Art of the Virgin Mary and Bodhisattva Guanyin

The Sinensis World has given rise to a fascinating aesthetic dialogue between two major icons of compassion: the Virgin Mary and the Bodhisattva Guanyin. At Paris Missions Étrangères, a selection of historical sculptures, including several unpublished pieces from private collections, illustrates this unique visual encounter. Between the modern era and the 20th century, these sacred figures have traveled and mutually influenced one another, adapting to local artistic codes to become universal symbols. The exhibition highlights the finesse of these works and the way they circulated beyond religious boundaries. This artistic confrontation allows us to grasp the evolution of representations of the sacred in a context of intense cultural exchanges. These heritage treasures are to be admired from February 13th to April 25th, 2026.