Hidden Treasures From Kabul Is A Real Treasure

by Judith H. Dobrzynski  •  Aug 11, 2009 at 9:23 am
Cross-posted from ArtsJournal.com

http://www.judithdobrzynski.com/2009/08/hidden-treasures-from-kabul-is-a-real-treasure

What can one say about an exhibit -- Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures From the National Museum, Kabul -- that has been on tour in the U.S. since May, 2008, and on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art*, its last stop, since June 23? Newspapers, magazines and other ArtsJournal bloggers have written about this show, too, including Chloe Veltman in Lies Like Truth, who described the poignancy:

To stare at the soberly-lit glass cases filled with such objects as a glowing pair of gold shoe soles found in the tomb of a nomadic princess or the smooth clay head of a temple sculpture from the Greek-influenced royal city of Ai Khanum, is to begin to grasp the deep heritage of a country that seems, owing to its near-constant presence in current new headlines, to have no past -- just a destructive present.

But I just got there over the weekend, and I am moved to say something about this not-to-be-missed show. Every one of the 200-plus items is stunning.

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