The most amazing exhibition I saw in Paris was at Kamel Mennour Gallery. Although this gallery does not specialize in Chinese contemporary art, they have signed Huang Yong Ping who is one of the greatest Chinese conceptual artists. Like many Chinese artists in the 1980s, he left China for France. He settled permanently in Paris in 1989 and has been living and working there since.

Huang Yong Ping’s installations are awe-inspiring. They are immaculately crafted, visually stunning and conceptually strong.

When you walk into the gallery you encounter a huge rock.

On the other side of the rock is a small hole which you can peer into. This is the Caverne.

Inside the rock sit Taliban militants and buddhas. Over the last decade Supreme Commander of the Taliban Mullah Mohammad Omar has vowed to destroy all Buddha statues in Afghanistan. In March 2001, the Taliban militia destroyed a 2,000 year old Buddha located in Bamian in addition to the world’s tallest standing Buddha measuring 50 meters. Many countries have voiced their horror at this but ultimately who will put their foot down?

Who can ignore the Elephant in the Room? China has shed its skin, everything old for the new. The world has changed. No country can ignore China as a menacing treat and a world world. For example, President Barack Obama refused to meet the Dalai Lama in Washington earlier this month in a move to promote a better relationship with the Chinese.

NY Times Huang Yong Ping
Taliban Destroys Buddhas
Obama refused to meet Dalai Lama