'The Art Gallery of New South Wales is highly honoured to participate in the Australian tour of these remarkable treasures from Afghanistan as part of our commitment to the arts of broader Asia. We look forward to presenting the exhibition in the context of an art museum at the same time as a special display of works by the Afghani-Australian artist Khadim Ali.’ – Michael Brand, director, Art Gallery of New South Wales

A remarkable exhibition of stunning artefacts revealing Afghanistan’s rich culture.

Afghanistan was at the heart of the Silk Road, the trading route travelled by Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Marco Polo, linking ancient Iran, Central Asia, India and China, and the more distant cultures of Greece and Rome.

Visiting Australia for the first time, this exhibition – with more than 230 priceless treasures, some thousands of years old – offers a rare opportunity to discover the surprising, untold story of the long and extraordinarily rich culture that is Afghanistan.

For years these artefacts were thought lost or destroyed as war and instability shook the country. In 2003 they were uncovered from vaults in the central bank of the presidential palace, where they had been placed in secrecy by a few courageous staff from the National Museum, Kabul.

Discover stories of bravery that protected these precious artefacts of gold, bronze and stone sculptures, ivories, painted glassware and other ancient works of art.