Buddhism Exhibition at Museum Rietberg Explores 2,500 Years of Art and Faith

The Museum Rietberg in Zurich presents 'Prossima fermata Nirvana – Approcci al Buddhismo,' an exhibition that uses art history and over 100 artifacts from China, Japan, India, and other collections to introduce Buddhism to a broad audience. The show is part of the 'Vedi l’arte – comprendi la religione' project developed with local schools, featuring eight thematic areas covering Buddha's teachings, rituals, and contemporary practice. Highlights include contact relics from the presumed tomb of Siddhartha Gautama, discovered by amateur archaeologist Claxton Peppé in northern India in the late 19th century, exhibited in Switzerland for the first time. A monumental Buddha statue from Pakistan (2nd–1st century BCE) is also shown outside Peshawar for the first time. Curator Johannes Beltz emphasizes the importance of cultural cooperation with Pakistan to counter isolation and promote tolerance. The exhibition runs until March 31, 2019, and includes video testimonies from practitioners, mantra sound installations, and a glossary instead of a catalog.