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What is a priceless treasure to one
person may be insignificant or even trash to someone else.
Gigantic sculptures of Buddha that
had stood for fifteen hundred years along the ancient silk
road in Afghanistan were monuments of great artistic, cultural,
and spiritual significance to some. Some cultural organizations
were making efforts to restore and protect them as important
world heritage sites. But for the Taliban, which ruled that
country in 2001, the sculptures were intolerable idols.
So they planted explosives and attacked
the sculptures with fighter planes to demolish them.
Sometimes momentos are found on the
pedestal of the Southwest Pieta or tucked into a crack. Among
them is this poignant love note pleading "Please don't
leave me. Please don't leave me. Please don't leave me."
Who knows whether the plea succeeded? Did they get back together?
Was their love cherished and maintained? Or has it crumbled
in ruins?
As an officially designated national
historic treasure and with the commitment shown by Arizona
State University, the near future of two casts of the Southwest
Pieta seem secure. However the ultimate fate of Luis
Jiménez' Southwest Pieta and other art treasures
is unknown.
· Do you care enough to make
sure this sculpture is taken care of?
· If not the Southwest
Pieta, what would you like to see conserved for the future?
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