Treasures From Afghanistan at the Asian Art Museum

October 24, 4:18 PMSF Art ExaminerMarisa Nakasone

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Image: Asian Art Museum © Thierry Ollivier / Musée Guimet

Treasures From Afghanistan at the Asian Art Museum

A country that has been a host for conflict for the last thirty years, the historical and archeological treasures of the region's rich cultural history has been in peril with many priceless objects looted, stolen, destroyed, or lost in the mire.  Since the US invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, questions and criticism have been raised regarding the United States' responsibility for the protection of these historically significant objects. 
The story of the artifacts in the Asian Art Museum's latest exhibition, Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures From the National Museum, Kabul is just as extraordinary as the artifacts themselves.  Following the withdrawal of Soviet troops in 1989, a group of museum employees, at the behest of the museum director, secretly removed the "Bactrian Hoard" from the National Museum and hid it in an underground vault beneath Kabul's Central Bank.  The treasure, containing two thousand year old coins, jewelry, and ornaments was rumored to have been melted down, seized by Russian troops, or looted by robbers.  Finally in 2004, through negotiations with the National Geographic Society, archeologists were permitted to take an inventory of the treasure and the vault was opened.  The exhibition contains over two hundred pieces, the eclectic nature of which speak to Afghanistan's geographical significance as a main route for trade between East Asia and the Mediterranean/Europe.  These unique artifacts give viewers a glimpse into the exchange of culture and ideas in this country along a significant trade route. 
I am looking forward to this exhibit not only to view the dazzling objects in this collection, but also to further educate myself on the ancient history of the Middle East and the Arabian peninsula, a region which dominates our handling (or mishandling) of foreign policy. 

The Asian Art Museum will host the ONLY west coast exhibition of this collection.

Afghanhistan: Treasures From the National Museum, Kabul opens this Saturday, October 25 through January 2009. 

$12 for adults, $8 for seniors, $7 for youth 13–17, and free for children under 12. Thursday evenings after 5 pm admission is just $5 for all visitors except those under 12 and members, always free

200 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, with extended hours until 9:00 pm every Thursday.

**Thanks to Target, admission is free every first SUNDAY!