Kathmandu— An exhibition exploring the displacement of cultural heritage during colonial rule begins Sunday at Taragaon Next, Boudha in Kathmandu, and will run through October 31. The two-month long event brings together artists from across South Asia to examine issues of cultural loss, ownership, restitution, memory, and the politics surrounding displaced heritage. Supported by the Saraf Foundation and curated by Dr. Arshiya Mansoor Lokhandwala, ‘What Empire Took, What Empire Left: Museums, Borders and the Politics of Return in South Asia’ aims to portray the structures that enabled displacement, including colonial systems of knowledge and museum practices.

Exhibition Focuses on Displaced Objects

The exhibition draws connections across South Asia, highlighting the removal of sacred objects from Nepal’s temples, the dispersal of Indian bronzes, Gandharan sculptures from Pakistan, and the erosion of Bangladesh's terracotta heritage. According to organizers, the exhibition holds particular resonance in Nepal, where the theft and removal of religious sculptures has long raised questions about heritage protection and repatriation.

Dr. Lokhandwala emphasized that the exhibition seeks to move beyond simply asking what should be returned, but rather who holds the power to interpret and determine the fate of displaced heritage. “This exhibition brings South Asia into that urgent discourse,” she said.

The programme accompanying the exhibition will also feature discussions on the historical, political, and ethical questions informing the artists’ practices.

(With inputs from RN)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.