Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures

Managed to make the last day of the Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures exhibition. At the top is a quote by the curator of Kabul Museum, which is displayed across Kabul Museum, which in the 1970s held over 100,000 artefacts. By the mid 1990s, only 4,000 could be identified. Bottom right, is limestone figure which was excavated, pieced back together & then displayed in Kabul Museum. When the Taliban took over, they objected to the display of the human form, and smashed the piece again. This was one of 2,500 artefacts to be destroyed because they were deemed "idolatrous". The head was beyond salvaging, but the remainder of the pieces were kept hidden in a vault for their protection. The museum itself was later shelled, and after the fall of the Taliban, the elected president Hamid Karzai sent this piece, along with the rest of the collection, were taken to France to be restored (again) & kept safe, and has been travelling the world ever since. More than just artefacts, this journey speaks of the resilience and trials of the Afghani culture & peoples. A privilege to get a glimpse at this part of history which was nearly lost forever.