Museological

The call for decolonising in the fields of culture studies has gained impetus, especially through numerous publications from and interviews with the circle around Walter Mignolo. In this article I look specifically into decolonising the art museum. For this I take it for granted, also based on my experience as a curator, that museums, including art museums are struggling with issues of cultural diversity and inclusivity. This struggle is rooted in fundamental frictions in which Art History plays a role.

MoMA’s recent launch of the ‘New MoMA’ (October 2019) serves as a point of departure for a critical reflection on a general tendency in the museum landscape to promote inclusion and democracy. Bourdieu’s A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste and Foucault’s Discipline and Punishment provide the theoretical framework for an investigation of museum genealogy questioning its very capacity for democracy. Following Rancière’s (2009) appeal for the emancipation of the spectator, this paper sheds light on the great paradox of the museum as both the enabler and inhibitor for democratic action. Unpacking this paradox, the paper provides various examples of art exhibitions, such as There is no (2017) at Nordnorsk Museum, which have actively furthered inclusion by democratising the regimes of art and knowledge production ultimately making the argument that there is no such thing as ‘half-open’. Openness requires commitment and museums must acknowledge that in order to make way for aesthet...

This paper shows the process behind the creation of Aysén Museums Network (Red de Museos Aysén), aimed at building partnerships with museums practitioners and consolidating a network of information based on existent collections. An overview on museums partnerships and on the development of Aysén museums and particular collections is provided, including the challenges faced due to geographical isolation. A museological study was developed and the traditional definition of museums by ICOM is contrasted with Aysén museums. At the same time, a participatory registery of archaeological, paleontological and historical collections is made in local museums and in various particular collectors. In addition, meetings and trainings have taken place among local museum practitioners. The social encounters between individuals and the flow of information enables the functioning of a network based on mutual trust, which is a new stage in the history of Aysén museums and collections. In this Region, collaborations will support them in their missions for integrating heritage, community and territory.