Musée Guimet, a Parisian museum known for its rich collection of Asian art, faces lawsuits from several groups that accused them of trying to “erase Tibet’s existence.”
according to French PositioningThe lawsuit first reported the complaint, which revolved around a gallery specializing in Nepal and Tibetan art. The museum now points out that the gallery focuses on the “Himalayan world” rather than Nepal and Tibet. AFP.
Doing so could “disturb Tibet’s cultural uniqueness with the political purpose of erasing Tibet’s existence.” The lawsuit also addressed other alleged efforts to deprive the text of “Tibetan art.”
this AFP The lawsuit was filed by four “pro-Tibet groups” identified by news agencies, and did not determine which groups these groups were. The article quotes their lawyers, who told AFP, “It’s hard to see the political undertone and intentional choice of Guimet being consistent with China’s lobbying efforts,” referring to China’s classification of Tibet as one of its autonomous regions.
Guimet Musée told AFP It does not seek to “make culture invisible, let alone deny the identity of Tibetans.” Furthermore, the museum says the term “Himalayan World” is used to “highlight the rich cultural interactions of this vast and complex region.”
This is not the first time Musée Guimet has received overturning in the way Tibet is discussed in its material. Last year, more than 140 organizations signed an open letter saying the museum “risks to endorse China’s colonization of Tibet and the systematic erasure of its culture and heritage.”
