International
Preservation Projects for
ICOMOS / UNESCO
in Bamiyan, Afghanistan
2004 - 2011
Salvaging, documentation and emergency
preservation of fragments of the Buddhas of Bamiyan, Afghanistan.
Consolidation of the rear side of the Buddha niche. In
cooperation with the TU Munich, department conservation sciences.
(The Buddhas had been destroyed by Taliban forces in March 2001.)
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2004- 2007: Afghan Workers
salvage fragments of the about 1600 cbm debris of Western Buddha (56 m).
Publications:
report 2004 (pdf, 570 KB)
The Giant Buddhas (ICOMOS-publcation 2009, pdf 16 MB)
H@R2008-10, Afghanistan (ICOMOS-publication 2011, pdf, 860 KB, compl. publ. >>>)
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Core drilling at the Eastern Buddha to set steel anchors (2010)
>>> Video A 1970's visit to Bamiyan <<<
>>> npr-report,
(J. Kakissis) 27 07 11 |
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Germany/Bavaria
Restoration and reconstruction of historic sculpture
Since 1986 I am working in the fields of preservation
and restoration as a freelance sculptor and art historian. Projects (selection):
Frauenkirche München (Leinberger),
Buxheim(baroque choir stalls), Haimpertshofen (renaissance retabel), Kaufbeuren (gothic altar St.
Blasius), Michelfeld (Asamkirche), Altomünster (baroque church), Rottenbuch (monastery church) |
2004: Consolidating the fragments
of mud plaster alpine style. A schaffold was not available until end of 2007. |
Fragment Nr. 48 with traces of sculptural
work
of Western Buddha
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Our afghan team at lunchtime in one of the temple caves at Eastern Buddha, 2009
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Fragment of clay plaster of Western.
Buddha
(with rope armature)
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 1990-94: Baroque choir stalls(1694)
at Buxheim (Bavaria), rebuilding and partly reconstruction |
2004:salvaging of rock fragments,
Western Buddha (56 m) |
Storage halls with fragments, Western
Buddha
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Restoration of in situ mud plaster fragments at Eastern Buddha, 2008 and 2009
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Armature wooden pegs, Western Buddha, 6./7. Jh. AD
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Buxheim: Reconstruction of a caryatid |
2004: In the niche of the Eastern Buddha. Some remains dared to fall off the cliff and had to be secured. |
2005: salvaging of rock fragments, Eastern
Buddha (38 m)
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The start at the Bamiyan site was in 2004 with building storages for the fragments and salvaging those. Part of the job was training of afghan crafts to join the project in a qualified way. Later in 2008 consolidation of the Buddha niche and restoration of original parts of the clay plaster have been continuing the mission.
see Smithsonian magazine:
Searching for Buddha in Afghanistan,
by Josh Hammer 2010
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B. Praxenthaler (left) at Eastern Buddha with visitors from Munich of TUM, Prof. Emmerling), Gov. Dr. Sarabi, Prof. Fecker from Karlsruhe, Dipl. Ing. S. Seradj and M. Mirzai. (Oct. 2008)
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Renaissance altar at Haimpertshofen:
design, reconstruction and restoration of ornaments |