Thais protest Buddha statue in German art display
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Thais protested Tuesday against the use of a Buddha statue in an art installation in southern Germany, saying the exhibition was disrespectful.
About 15 members of the World Fellowship of Buddhists marched outside the German embassy in Bangkok, waving banners in English,Thai and German saying "Stop disrespecting Buddha," "Buddha is not anart object," and "Buddha's image is not furniture."
The statue, displayed in a market square in Munich, is of a large gold-coloured sitting Buddha tipped onto its back, and has reportedly been climbed on and photographed in inappropriate ways.
The fellowship's Thai chairman, Pornchai Pinyapong, demanded that the German government put pressure on the art gallery that organised the display to take it down.
"They should stop this gallery show because they have no knowledge of Buddhist ways," he said.
Despite protests by Thai Buddhists, Munich's Municipal Department of Arts and Culture reportedly insisted it would keep the statue on display until the end of September, one of several art pieces installed by the city its public places.
Prissana Pongthadsirikul, Thailand's permanent secretary forculture, was quoted by the Thai Rath newspaper as saying the statue is considered very inappropriate.
The Thai Culture Ministry has asked Munich authorities to immediately remove the sculpture and sent a booklet to educate thecity on how to properly display Buddhist symbols.
