NATIONAL12 [ (Spotlight Weelky)]

Cry Freedom

Siddhartha Art Gallery and Nepalese Heritage Society present a plea for peace, hope and renewal

By AKSHAY SHARMA

"Oh early life early death!/Oh broken Heart!/No destiny So Cruel/And I bore you to this evil!" This excerpt from Homer's Iliad must have captured the anguish of art lovers around the world when Afghanistan's Taliban rulers demolished the Bamiyan Buddha statues.

The Siddhartha Art Gallery and the Nepalese Heritage Society brought back memories of this monumental loss in "Bamiyan Buddha, Icon of Peace, Hope and Renewal". The show, which included a collection of paintings by Prakash Chandawadker, was inaugurated by Chyoki Nyma Rimphoche on December 15. It also featured a video made by Jeong Myeong Kyeong, Pak Kyung, Kim Hun Sung, Son Jin Sook. Works by other renowned artists like Sunita Rana, Sudarshan Rana, Ashmina Ranjit Gopal Kalapremi, dances by Nritya Mandap and a recital by Sur Sudha, were part of show, organized to back a Swiss initiative to renovate the Bamiyan Buddhas.

"Siddhartha Gautam is kind of a sentimental factor to me," said Sangeeta Thapa, the director of the gallery. "When I heard about the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas, I felt very sad because I also have a sentimental attachment to Afghanistan. I've heard stories of the statues from my father, who has been there."

She added: "I remember the remark made by Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee after his country tested nuclear weapons: ëEven the Bamiyan Buddhas smiled'. This disregard for the icon of peace originates from the subcontinent itself. Although the Taliban were successful in destroying the Bamiyan Buddhas, they could not wipe out Buddhism."

The Bamiyan Buddhas were worshiped by the local people before the time of the prophet Muhammad. "I was filled with sadness and anger when I heard the news of the demolition of the statues," said Juha Holopainen of Finland. "I do not understand why people of diverse religions still have to fight each other. Hasn't the world seen enough destruction and wars? Although the statues do not stand there anymore, can you destroy the virtues and the teaching of the very wise man who preached peace all around the world?"

Juha, whose paintings are quite diverse, has his own technique. "I grew up in the 60's watching television and movies. I use Hollywood stars to express my inner feelings. I first use aluminium plates and glue. After it has dried, I paint on them."

Artist Ragini Upadhyaya said: "I have the liberty of having a press and have used a new technique using leaves to send across my message. My emphasis is on the sun and the Buddha. Both represent truth and can't be destroyed."

Pratima Rana, vice-president of the Nepal Heritage Society, said: "Sangeeta is donating Rs 10,000 and the Nepal Heritage Society is donating the same amount to the Swiss government, which has taken the initiative to rebuild the Bamiyan statues." Dolly Rana, treasurer of the society, said, "The event we are organizing here is creating a lovely evening of the mixture of art, culture and peace." Nritya Mandap's Yagya Man Shakya choreographed dances representing the elements and message of Buddhism.

Chandawadker said his paintings focus on the harmonization of the colors of Hinduism and the beauty of Buddhism that exist so beautifully in Nepal. "I have tried to capture the five elements of Buddhism in my paintings. Everybody needs solace from something. For me, it is Buddha."

The video focuses on the theme of the Bamiyan Buddhas, said Kim Hun Sung. "It's an abstract

production, a jerky home made production aimed at the Pancha (five) colours. We used a camcorder. The focus is to make the audience realize the destruction of the Bamiyans. And we focused on destruction as a cycle ó it comes and goes."