KARACHI, March 31: An eminent Pakistani painter and sculptor had to see his high-profile exhibition in Dubai spoiled after four of his sculptures were detained by the Pakistani Customs officials suspecting them of being Buddha statues.

Sculptor Shahid Rassam had booked four of his sculptures — each weighing around 50 kgs, measuring 2.5 feet in height and made up of gunmetal and bronze — with the PIA cargo through a clearing and forwarding agent a couple of weeks back ensuring their arrival in Dubai before the March 19 exhibition, titled ‘Worshippers and Sinners’.

He left for Dubai along with several of his paintings, drawings and two sculptures for displaying them at the Bagash Art Gallery. However, despite making several contacts, he could not get the detained pieces released.

“This spoiled my exhibition because I had spent two years on creating six sculptures and they proved to be much sought after pieces for the visitors who could not find them at the show despite having been introduced in the brochure,” Mr Rassam told Dawn.

He said he could not understand why the art pieces were not released although he had completed all formalities and made relevant payments. “It did not only embarrass me, but fingers were also pointed at the credibility of Pakistan to which I belong to,” he said.

Mr Rassam contacted the Customs officials soon after his return home to ascertain the reasons that led to the ruining of his show. The reason given by the officials caused him another shock.

“It was shocking to listen from them that the sculptures were considered as of Buddha. Even a layman could say that none of them had even a slightest similarity to a Buddha statue,” he said.

Three of his four detained sculptures carrying captions ‘Wait to be served’, ‘Raqsay Zanjeer’ and ‘Relationship’ were featured in the brochure.

The artist has been asked to wait until the Customs authorities get an opinion from the archaeological department experts.

“They have asked me that they would return my sculptures to me after the archaeology department is satisfied that these are not Buddha statues or do not belong to the country’s antiques,” Mr Rassam wondered. He said the authorities concerned remained unmoved when the precious sculptures and seals were stolen from Moenjodaro and Taxila but woke up only when the US authorities themselves seized the antiques and sent them back to Pakistan.

“Our authorities are least bothered about our archaeological treasure and in my case, they used this ploy only to tease me and spoil my show,” said Mr Rassam.