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A 6th-century image of the Buddha covered in narrative scenes and images has been a part of the Freer Gallery of Art’s collection since 1923 and featured in many exhibitions over the course of nearly a century. With the Freer closed for renovations until 2017, much of its Chinese Buddhist sculpture collection will be off view, but the so-called Cosmic Buddha is getting an exhibition of its very own. Every inch of the headless sculpture, which represents the Buddhist concept of emptiness, has been digitized since 2011, allowing researchers to understand the intricate details carved into its surface, which are meant to represent spiritual emanations. Now the general public can closely examine it as well; from ink rubbings to a flat map of the sculpture’s surface, visitors will be able to closely examine its messages clearly for the first time. The new exhibition also teaches lessons about digitization technology and art preservation. Who knows how art will be examined 15 centuries from now? The exhibition is on view daily, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. Free. (202) 633-4880. asia.si.edu.