Far away or very close? The exhibition tells of the multi-layered connections between Stuttgart, Germany and Afghanistan. It shows historical objects, pre-Islamic and Islamic works of art as well as everyday yet significant objects.
It was developed by the Linden-Museum together with the Entangled: Stuttgart - Afghanistan working group. Since 2019, people from the Stuttgart region, many of them with an international and Afghanistan-related history, as well as partners from universities and the arts, have been involved in the project. They have contributed to the exhibition in terms of concept, content and, in some cases, very personal memories and thoughts. Throughout the exhibition, there are always references to the present - including historical themes. This also happens through personal and critical comments or artistic positions.
View of the exhibition, Linden Museum Stuttgart Exhibition "Stuttgart - Afghanistan" © Linden Museum Stuttgart
The exhibition begins with transcontinental relations dating back thousands of years to the territory of present-day Afghanistan and an insight into the beginnings of German-Afghan history just over 100 years ago. Based on the collections of the Linden-Museum, it shows depictions of the Buddha and large-format marble panels from the Ghaznavid period (11th/12th century), combined with new research and information on provenance. Visitors can experience them interactively using augmented reality.
One focus of the exhibition is the Stuttgart Badakhshan Expedition 1962/63, the Linden Museum's largest and longest research trip. It is retold through research and the participation of many actors between Stuttgart and Afghanistan. The exhibition also reports on trips to Afghanistan and German families in Kabul in the 1970s. Another large section deals with objects and their various meanings - especially in the 20th and 21st centuries - textiles, jewelry, furniture and tableware. The exhibits are linked to stories of travel, in some cases also of migration, war and flight, and also raise political questions.
January 27 to July 28, 2024
