Remember when terrorists stormed the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in India, killing at least 163 people? During that three-day siege the hotel, a Moorish-Florentine palace that opened in 1903, was ravaged by fires, gunshots and explosions. The roof collapsed, and intricate woodwork was burned away. Paintings by modern Indian masters like Vasudeo S. Gaitonde and Jehangir Sabavala were covered in soot and fungus. The Taj Mahal hotel is an important architectural landmark playing a critical role in supporting and housing Indian art.

Over the last 21 months, the hotel has been gutted and renovated. A group of five specialists spent 10 months restoring nearly 300 pieces of art, working in the Crystal Ballroom, where guests and staff sought refuge during the attack. Today this artwork restoration will be on display.

Vietnam native Diem Cheu creates delicate totems made out of Crayola crayons. What kind of cultural beliefs or story do you think they tell?