edited by Alexandra Vanleene, Arnaud Marguier and Vydhegi Brice, Strasbourg 2025.
This volume, arising from the International Colloquium held at the University of Strasbourg in May 2024, reexamines the exceptional artistic production of the so-called Gandhāran Art through the lens of the work of artists and artisans, in an effort to renew our understanding by emphasizing the objects themselves and the techniques employed by their creators, but also the daily realities of the artisans, their aspirations, and their representations.
At the time of the first discoveries of Gandhāran Art, exploration brought these works to light before archaeology had developed as a formal discipline. Many lack clear provenance, and even more are without stratigraphic context. The result was a heterogeneous collection that presents significant challenges for study. A century of archaeological research has shown that Gandhāran Art cannot be reduced to simplistic concepts. From this art, there remains only a conventional name applied to an exceptional artistic production. Fortunately, artists and artisans have left a message through their works, which may help illuminate this complex picture.
Since the mid-20th century, systematic archaeological surveys have uncovered numerous objects now more reliably linked to their discovery contexts. Acknowledging both the abundance of poorly documented works and the advances of recent research, this volume seeks to renew our understanding of Gandhāran Art through scientifically grounded approaches.
The purpose was to start from the objects, either directly or indirectly associated with the label of Gandhāran Art, recognizing that this production extends far beyond the borders of modern Pakistan and Afghanistan and must be reconsidered within a wider art historical context, shaped by connections to distant regions and religious traditions. Given the unprecedented opportunities offered by digital technologies to gather and cross-reference sources at scale, it seemed timely present, once again, the Art(s) of Gandhāra.
The publication opens with a tribute to the late Professor Zémaryalaï Tarzi, a pioneer of Afghan excavations, followed by what would become his final scholarly contribution.
Contributors to this volume include Laeiq AHMADI, Olivier BORDEAUX, Vydhegi BRICE, Angela CHANG, Claire CHESNEAU, Giulia FORGIONE, Alejandro GALLEGO, Chai Yee LEOW, Mònica LÓPEZ-PRAT, Arnaud MARGUIER, Satoshi NAIKI, Michaël RAKOTOZONIA, Birgit Angelika SCHMIDT, Gil STEIN, Zémaryalaï TARZI, Alexandra VANLEENE and Shao XUECHENG.
