AP: Artist to 'Re-Create' Laser Buddhas (Destroyed by Taliban)

[truthpusher]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050808/ap_en_ot/laser_buddhas_2

AP: Artist to 'Re-Create' Laser Buddhas
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By SOLVEJ SCHOU, Associated Press Writer
59 minutes ago
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When the former Taliban regime in Afghanistan destroyed two 1,600-year-old Buddha statues lining Bamiyan Valley's soaring cliffs, the world shook with shock at the demise of such huge archaeological treasures. Now, artist Hiro Yamagata plans to commemorate the towering Buddhas by projecting multicolored laser images onto the clay cliffsides where the figures once stood.

"I'm doing a fine art piece. That's my purpose — not for human rights, or for supporting religion or a political statement," said the 58-year-old artist, whose other laser works include a permanent display at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.

Against a canvas of desert darkness, 14 laser systems will project 140 overlapping faceless "statues" sweeping four miles across Bamiyan's cliffs in neon shades of green, pink, orange, white and blue. Each image will continuously change color and pattern.

Powered by solar panels and windmills, the 125- to 175-foot-high squiggle-style, Day-Glo images — the same size as the original Buddhas — would be in stark contrast to the austere, rural valley below, a land wracked by poverty and violence; a land that has little electricity of its own.

(snip)

"The destruction of the twin towers and the two Buddhas have been linked as a moment in time," said Robert Brown, 60, an art historian from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a curator of Southeast Asian art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. "Yamagata's lasers obviously have a commemorative notion to them, like the 9/11 memorial in New York."

(snip)

complete story: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050808/ap_en_ot/laser_buddhas_2

[Canuckistanian]

1. And this is being done why?

Why doesn't he just donate all those solar panels and wind turbines to aid the starving people of Afganistan? I'm sure a school or hospital could benefit from such a power source.

Now, I agree that the destruction of the Buddhas was an outrage perpetrated by religious nutcases, but who is going to appreciate this? Cetainly not the residents, who are too concerned about their own survival.

[Up2Late]

2. I Agree, as a Buddhist, I miss the Buddhas and wish they had not been

destroyed by the Taliban, but this is a silly and selfish act when you consider the ways, as you pointed out, these resources could help the people of Afghanistan.

Two of the Principles of Buddhism are Impermanence and SelfLESSness, I don't think the Buddha would appreciate this Artist act, while the people of Afghanistan have so many un-met needs.

[KittyWampus]

6. Absurd, No Acts Of Beauty Must Be Forthcoming Until ALL The Homeless

and hungry are fed?

And Buddhism doesn't have SelfLESSness as a Principle.

It has the Centrality of the ONE SELF as its core.

And the import of living in accord with that One Self.

And using ones artistic talent to beautify & enlighten the world is as important a use of ones Individuality as being a Mother Teresa.

[Up2Late]

11. "...the Centrality of the ONE SELF as its core? ah NO, WRONG!

I don't know where you think you learned this about Buddhism, but that is absolutely Wrong!

Maybe you've watched too many Steven Segal movies or read a book by some Christian author, who's agenda was to convince you how wrong Buddhism is and how right the Catholic Church is in it's teachings or something?

Frankly, I'm troubled that you would make such obnoxious statements when you demonstrate such limited knowledge of Buddhism.

Please tell me, who taught you these lies about Buddhism? Was it a particular book or Author? I'd like to read or hear where you got these misguided notions about the teaching of The Buddha.:shrug:

[shrike]

27. Y'know, I admire the Buddha

and his teachings. I'm also Catholic. I'd really appreciate it if the Church wasn't always picked out as the villain.

BTW, I agree with your opinion of the statues, though my opinions are not based on Buddhist principles, obviously. And I'll take your word for it on the principle of selflessness.

[Up2Late]

30. Sorry, but I'm also ex-Catholic, not bitter, but I know a little about...

...the Catholic Church too.

I'm glad your happy with them, but once everyone in my family left the church (including my Mother), I figured it was time to take an honest look at it's teachings and hypocrisies and found an entirely new level of spirituality.

Good Luck to ya,

Peace

[anotherdrew]

12. some people are planning worse...

Some what to rebuild them.

buddists should understand that nothing lasts forever, make something new at least, rather than trying to rebuild the old exactly alike.

That being said the destruction was unfortunate as there's no reason they had to go just then either.

I'm sure the solar panels and windmills will be put to use by the locals the minute this guy finishes his 'show' (maybe even before).

[psychopomp]

29. lol the buddha also taught that a time would come when the teachings would

be lost to the world and the light (of the teachings) would go out. So, I think that, generally speaking, buddhists realize better than most people that nothing lasts forever.

[KittyWampus]

3. you could donate all your money towards those kids and there'd STILL

be homeless, hungry and downtrodden.

The world needs Art. It informs, uplifts and enlightens.

[Cyrano]

5. Let's destroy the Sistine Chapel ceiling, the David and the Pieta.

And why bother replacing them (which is impossible).

Yes, our dollars should go to schools and hospitals. But a while back there was a TV commercial which stated, "Take away man's art, and you just might find man up a tree."

Bush, and the simians surrounding him, are knowingly, or unknowingly, trying to put us back into that tree. Schools, hospitals, science, and all of the knowledge that humanity has gathered over the past few millenia mean nothing if it can't be learned and carried on.

BushCo is the most insidious, dangerous enemy that progress on planet Earth has seen in quite a while.

Don't downplay the importance of those Buddhas that were destroyed. They were noble expressions of the nobility of mankind. And those who destroyed them are some of the worst barbarians we've ever seen.

[SoCalDem]

15. There are PEOPLE living in the rubble of those statues.

Why not spend that money to help them instead?

a very good documentary about those people:



http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s1148393.htm



The Boy Who Plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan
Review by David Stratton

Mir Hussain is an eight-year-old boy who is fun, cheeky, inquisitive, energetic and bright. He also lives in a cave in post-Taliban Afghanistan,and owns virtually nothing — though to him this is normal — it is all he's known.

Margaret: David:

Watch "The Boy Who Plays on the Buddhas of Bamiyan" trailer (Requires RealPlayer):

Hifi video Lofi video
Three years ago, when the Taliban in Afghanistan destroyed the 1600 year-old statues of giant buddhas in Bamiyan, the world was horrified. Just as horrifying, though, is to explore the lives of some of the people who live in Bamiyan, poverty-stricken, sickly peasants who find shelter in the ancient caves carved into the face of the mountains. Meet Mir, eight years old…

Mir lives with his parents, his sister and his brother-in-law, and in British director Phil Grabsky's beautiful, painful but ultimately optimistic documentary feature, we follow his footsteps over the course of a year, starting in summer. He seems to be a surprisingly cheerful youngster, given the horrors he's endured and the fact that he lives on the edge of starvation. His father, who looks old enough to be his grandfather, came from a village, from which he was forced to flee. With his livelihood destroyed, he's forced to feed his family on whatever he can find — offal the butcher throws away, stale bread the baker doesn't want.

more

[Up2Late]

19. Thanks, I'll check it out,

I saw a Documentary by 3 Afghan Women, when they returned in 2003 after the fighting calmed down. They interview some of the women and children living in caves near where the Buddhas were too.

It was on PBS in 2003 I think, but I can't seem to find it on the internet. Sorry.

[SoCalDem]

20. Link Tv shows the Bamiyan documentary from time to time

and you might be able to watch it online.. It's a great story

[daleo]

4. Some power will be supplied to villages

"Shortly after his 2003 meeting with Afghan officials in Tokyo, Yamagata visited Bamiyan and was moved by its orphaned children, squalid living conditions and lack of electricity. He decided then that his artwork should also give something back to the war-torn region.

Of the roughly 140 4,000-kilowatt windmills he plans to ship into Afghanistan for the Bamiyan project, Yamagata said that 100 of them would provide power for surrounding villages. He also wants to hire 40 local young men, typically jobless, to dig foundations for the windmills, starting in March 2006. Completion of the project is set for June 2007."

I still think this is a bad idea. It is far to "in your face" for the present political environment of Afghanistan. Like it or not, it has a definite colonial mentality to it.

[Up2Late]

9. Thank you for that additional info, it's good to know that it's not...

...a 100% selfish act, only mostly.

I wonder how many more are going to die trying to protect the windmills from power bandits or will be shot as looters, when they try to steal the parts to sell for food to feed their families?

[henslee]

7. And then Christo and his wife can wrap the whole thing up in a hefty bag

and document it. Geyyyad.

[4_Legs_Good]

8. Sounds awesome!

I love art!!! :)

And lament the destruction of the statues.

david

[jahyarain]

10. but

In his ignorance man thinks he can successfully strive for his own interests, and this wrongly-directed energy of selfishness produces suffering.

that's in Principle 6

This state of Consciousness, Nirvana, the extinction of the limitations of self-hood, is attainable on earth.

that's in Principle 8

as a musician, i appreciate art very much. other than my children, music is the biggest part of my life. however, i am of the inclination that human life is more important. if he is giving jobs and power to the village then...cool. but to put art or anything else above the lives of your brothers and sisters? now that's absurd

[Up2Late]

13. Exactly, Very well said

And Welcome to DU jahyarain. :toast:

[Redstone]

21. Let me add my welcome to DU and appreciation

of your thoughtful post.

Redstone

[newyawker99]

22. Hi jahyarain!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Kagemusha]

14. And while this is going on, Mecca's history is being buried

or so recent articles have strongly said. Ugh.

[leftchick]

16. And what about Babylon Vandalized by US and Polish forces?

:shrug:

[riverwalker]

17. "squiggle style Day Glo images" ??

"Powered by solar panels and windmills, the 125- to 175-foot-high squiggle-style, Day-Glo images — the same size as the original Buddhas — would be in stark contrast to the austere, rural valley below, a land wracked by poverty and violence; a land that has little electricity of its own."


I suppose if they painted a wall of the Grand Canyon in lime green Day Glo it would be called beautifying art and a "stark contrast to the austere, rural valley below" as well. :crazy:
My gawd, haven't these people suffered enough?

[Redstone]

18. How many hungry Afghan children do you suppose

could be fed, and for how long, with the money being put into this pointless fucking nonsense?

Redstone

[Lorien]

23. The man is giving power to the community and bringing attention

back to the region. Most Americans have forgotten about Afghanistan completely; it's Iraq, 24/7. It seems to me that by igniting your outrage his art has served it's purpose. "He should spend the money to feed the people". Well, then shouldn't we all sell our TVs, iPods, late model vehicles, computers, and all the other "unnecessary" items we possess but enjoy and give the money to the starving people of Afghanistan? No?

And isn't it arrogant to believe that the people of that region won't enjoy the distraction from their pain and suffering, just as we take solace from the news of the day by watching a movie or listening to music? Who is to say whether or not they'll enjoy what is essentially a colorful laser light show. Do we presume that they will only appreciate the traditional because they are "primitive" or some such nonsense? Do they not "deserve" art because they need so many of the basics? Isn't that the big GOP argument against funding the arts; that the basics are so much more important? Just how great would life be without literature, music, fine art and dance?

Seems to me that the artist has given more to the region that 99% of us ever will.

Flame away.

[Redstone]

26. Why would anyone want to flame you for saying that?

I don't agree, but it would be wrong for me to flame you for your opinion. It's obviously well thought out, and well explained, and is as valid as anyone else's.

Besides which, you could be right. And I could be wrong. Or the other way around, or one or the other of us might change our minds.

So no flames are called for.

Redstone

[DS1]

24. Wait till the Amish blow it up for using electricity

:D

[DS1]

25. on a more serious note - I think if Buddha found out two statues

of him were blown up, he'd say "So what?"

[Mithras61]

28. Either that. or...

"They made statues of me? Why? Have they learned nothing from my teachings?"