Art News. Vasari Codex

french museums open letter

Four pro-Tibetan groups in France have filed a legal complaint against Paris's Musée Guimet, accusing it of erasing Tibet's cultural identity by renaming its Nepal-Tibet gallery to "Himalayan world" and removing references to "Tibetan art." The groups argue the changes blur Tibet's distinct heritage and align with political pressures from Beijing. The museum denies external influence, stating the new name better reflects the region's cultural interconnections, citing similar usage by institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian.

gavel restitution schedule Feb 26, 2026 visibility 17 link 2 artists

Back to Assam: British Museum agrees to loan fragile tapestry showing Krishna’s life

The British Museum has reached an agreement with the state government of Assam to loan the Vrindavani Vastra, a 350-year-old sacred tapestry depicting the life of Krishna, for a six-month period starting in 2027. The loan is contingent upon the construction of a specialized new extension at the Assam State Museum in Guwahati to accommodate the textile's extreme fragility. This marks the first time the artifact, which features the earliest known Assamese inscriptions, will return to its place of origin since it was acquired by the British Museum following the 1904 Younghusband expedition to Tibet.

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