Martine Jacobs    -    The Buddhas of Bamiyan 

A prominent specialist on Afghanistan's history and culture has been speaking in London about plans for the possible reconstruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas. The two ancient statues, carved into a cliff in Bamiyan in central Afghanistan, were destroyed.

       

 

BAMIYAN REBORN  


BAMIYAN REBORN is a non-profit, international project of artists ready to
provide a personal contribution to the Afghan people who wish to protect and
reconstruct the Buddhas in Bamiyan, Afghanistan.

BAMIYAN REBORN will be an exhibition of approximately 100 works of art
dealing with the theme of the Bamiyan Buddhas.  The exhibition will be shown
all over the world in order to create awareness of the cultural importance of
this site and to raise funds for the reconstruction of the Buddhas. 

The inaugural exhibition will be at the Afghanistan Museum in Exile in
Bubendorf, Switzerland in  2004, opening on May 26th, the day traditionally
commemorating the birth and enlightenment of the Buddha.  From there it will
travel to various exhibition spaces around the world for approximately two
years. At the end of its journey, it will be permanently on display in a
museum in Bamiyan.  The work of each artist, created especially for the
exhibition, will be part of a donation to this Afghan cultural institution.

Art is one of the most important tools we have to communicate our hopes and
ideals, and to deliver a positive message to the world concerning the
transcendent and redemptive. In this time of unpredictable change and 

upheaval, artists can be visionaries and healers.  The Buddha has become an
immensely powerful image of tolerance, a universal symbol of peace and
compassion. For this reason, the exhibition BAMIYAN REBORN has particular
significance.

The reconstruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas is of great importance to the Afghan
people symbolically, culturally and economically. On a historical level it
would recreate an almost "missing link" between the Buddhist culture of Asia
and the Hellenistic art of Europe. Most importantly, it would be a great
benefit to Afghanistan, restoring a part of its cultural past and increasing
its tourist attraction, creating income for tens of thousands of Afghans.

The realization of BAMIYAN REBORN requires financial contributions as well.
Donations will be used to cover the costs of the preparation, organization
and transportation of the exhibition, and to print a catalogue and
accompanying materials. Any additional income will be used for the
reconstruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas through the Bamiyan Buddha
Reconstruction Project, organized by the Foundation Bibliotheca Afghanica
which is under the supervision of the Swiss government.

 

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