By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Jan. 13: Rubin Museum of Art, New York, is returning two wooden art works to Nepal.
Issuing a press statement on January 10, the Consulate General of Nepal and the Rubin Museum of Art, jointly made an announcement to return the two art objects from the Rubin’s permanent collection to Nepal.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Acting Consul General Bishnu Prasad Gautam and Executive Director Dr. Jorrit Britschgi on behalf of the Nepal government and the Rubin Museum of Art.
The art works scheduled to return include upper section of a frieze/Torana (17th century) and garland bearing flying Apsara/Gandharva (14th century).
The Torana was lost from the main door of Yampi Mahavihara (I-Bahi) Patan, Lalitpur.
According to the Museum officials, the artwork arrived at the museum in 2010. The work of flying Apsara is originally from Keshchandra Mahavihara, Itum Bahal in Kathmandu, which was lost in 1999 and added to the museum’s collection in 2003.
Receiving the art objects, Acting Consul General Gautam said, “The proactive and warm response and thoughtful collaboration from the museum have positively contributed to Nepal’s national efforts to recover and reinstate the lost artifacts.”
He expressed deep gratitude to the museum’s executive director, board of trustees, its scholars and officials for their initiative and cooperation in returning these artifacts back to Nepal.
The Consulate General and the museum collaborated to verify the origin of these arts, possibilities to return to the original sites and repatriation.
During this process, the museum engaged two scholars of Nepali art to further examine and research the known provenance of the art works.
Inputs to determine the ownership and origin of the art works were received from the Department of Archaeology of Nepal.
Executive Director of the museum Britschgi said, “As custodians of the art in our collection, the museum recognises that we have an ongoing duty to carefully research the art and objects we collect and exhibit.”
The theft of archaeological objects continues to be a major concern in the art world.
“The museum’s collecting activities adhere to the highest standards of ethical and professional practice related to provenance. We believe it is our responsibility to address and resolve issues of cultural property, including helping to facilitate the return of the two objects,” he said.
The Consulate General and the Rubin Museum expressed their willingness to work closely in promotion of art and culture, including Himalayan art, as these collaborative efforts contribute to preservation of the cultural heritage, and further strengthen the long-standing people-to-people ties between Nepal and the United States of America.
The Consulate General continues to work on the country’s national efforts in repatriation of lost cultural properties.