2023.10.09
On October 9, 2023, the opening ceremony of the exhibition "BUDDHA OF
WARSAW" introducing the two Buddha figures that remained after the production of
10,000 Buddha Amitayus figures at the Norblin factory in Warsaw, Poland in 1913-1914 on
the order of the Government of Bogd Khanate Mongolia took place. Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Republic of Poland H.E. Mr. B.Dorj
and Artur Setniewski, director of Norblin Factory Museum, opened the exhibition.
An introductory meeting to the aforementioned historical event took place after the
opening ceremony. Ambassador B.Dorj gave a speech and introduced the efforts of the
Embassy of Mongolia in expanding bilateral relations and cultural cooperation, expressed
his high appreciation for the importance of this exhibition, and extended his gratitude to the
organizers.
A descendant of the former owners of the Norblin factory, chairman of the board of
the "Our Norblin" association, historian Krzysztof Wittels made a presentation about the
history of the Norblin factory, Mongol studies scholar and translator Ireneush Roschipala
made a presentation about the development of Buddhism in Mongolia and the translation
of the above-mentioned commissioned documents, Maciej Magura Goralski, an employee
of the Pacific Museum and Asia talked about the Buddha Amitayus exhibition, Janusz
Mruz, a technology expert and restorer of the Norblin Industrial Museum, gave a
presentation on the technique and technology of production of the Warsaw Buddha.
In addition, Glenn Mullin, a well-known expert on Buddhist culture, the author and
translator of more than 30 books, Canadian citizen, gave an interesting talk. He plays an
important role in publicizing the issue of Buddha Amitayus figures produced in Poland.
The exhibition at Norblin in the center of Warsaw will be presented to the public until
the end of this year. The Buddha Amitayus figures were made in Poland on the order of the
Mongolian government at the time and are considered to be the first mass-produced
Buddha figures in the West. It is assumed that these two Buddha figures were not
completed and were somehow left behind in Poland, while in Mongolia, there are dozens of
Buddha figures preserved in Gandan Monastery, Erdene Zuu, and Bogd Museum.
