The Ongoing Quest to List and Document the Legacy
When Abdullah Breshna fled Afghanistan with his family in 1980, he safeguarded most of his father’s legacy, which has been kept alive through EXHIBITIONS, PUBLICATIONS, CALENDAR, postcards, and a CD of Abdul Ghafur Brechna's musical compositions— thanks to the aid and cooperation of friends, experts, and cultural institutions. Our aim is to cooperate with scientific institutions, researchers, and experts worldwide, breathing life into Afghanistan’s rich culture and inspiring Afghan artists and architects. We are actively forming sustainable networks in Afghanistan, Germany, and globally.
When Abdullah Breshna fled Afghanistan with his family in 1980, he safeguarded most of his father’s legacy, which has been kept alive through EXHIBITIONS, PUBLICATIONS, CALENDAR, postcards, and a CD of Abdul Ghafur Brechna's musical compositions— thanks to the aid and cooperation of friends, experts, and cultural institutions. Our aim is to cooperate with scientific institutions, researchers, and experts worldwide, breathing life into Afghanistan’s rich culture and inspiring Afghan artists and architects. We are actively forming sustainable networks in Afghanistan, Germany, and globally.
Photos of the handover in April 2017 in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Photos provided by the Ministry of Information in Culture
Preserving the 20th Century Cultural Heritage:
Many artifacts, especially from the last century, have been scattered worldwide due to war, mass displacement, and political instability. The Foundation seeks support to raise awareness of this endangered cultural heritage and fill major gaps in the history of Afghan art and architecture.
Challenges in Digitalizing Works:
Until August 2021, talks for listing and digitalizing works of Brechna and Breshna with Afghan institutional partners faced hurdles due to shifting policies and staffing issues (For more Insight refer to page 31-36 in our detailed Report 21/22).
Donation to Afghan National Art Gallery:
In a gesture of trust-building, we donated five oil paintings by Abdul Ghafur Brechna to the Negaristan Meli in 2017. (On behalf of Abdullah Breshna, Zahra Breshna officially handed over the paintings to the Ministry of Culture, in the presence of the Acting Minister of Culture, representatives of the Ministry of Culture, and the director of the Negaristan Meli, among others.)
Despite problems mentioned earlier, the cooperation and partnership with Afghan institutions and partners is still an ongoing and major concern, and our goal is still to promote education and outreach.
Building an international support network is a crucial objective.
New Acquisitions and Appreciation:
We extend our gratitude to Ms. Doris Esser for donating four watercolors by Abdul Ghafur Brechna in 2021. (Mr. Jürgen Esser was the cousin of Abdullah Breshna)
2021/22 Highlights:
- Cooperation with Linden Museum Stuttgart for the Afghanistan/Stuttgart exhibition in 2024 and behind.
- Membership in the German Foundation Association for valuable advice and a broad network.
- Ongoing partnerships with individuals, experts, and the incredible voluntary support of Dipl. Ing. Benjamin Thiele.
