The role of museums, and their potential for evolution.

maria

6/1/20172 min read

In May 15th 2017, in Lisbon, Portugal, the symposium "From the Pleasure of Preserving to the Pleasure of Displaying, The Politics of Fashion in the Museum" took place. It was organized to fill the lack of spaces to discuss fashion in museums, in Portugal. Xénia Flores Ribeiro, curator at the Museu Nacional do Traje, Lisbon, one of the speakers, spoke in a beautiful lecture about the memory embedded in the museum’s collection, and how the narrative of the stories allowed us to better understand the history and relevance of the dress in its time. At the end of the symposium, Ulrich Lehmann raised a question about this methodology of display and research: shouldn’t museums set aside memory and just focus merely in the educational and technical part of the piece and display? This point of view stroke me, I was used to focus on the emotional side of the art in front of me, with or without the proper knowledge of the object. Are the museums focusing more and more in the emotional side of an exhibition in order to further facilitate the acquisition of information by the visitor? Are the museums facilitating the information for the sake of attendance? Or, are the exhibitions simply a reflexion of the population’s fumble? Are they losing their role as an educational institution and becoming just another easy entertainment? But, nevertheless, is the complete drop of emotion the best way to educate the community?

In my opinion, museums are the epicentre of the community’s cultural life, points of interaction and communication, history and story, memory and information. They ought to challenge the visitors’ intellect whilst inspiring their creativity. Education and emotion should walk hand in hand; if an exhibition stripes itself of the emotional sphere what is left are scientific facts only a few will understand. If, only the emotional dimension remains, however, the visitors will never know of the importance and relevance an object can have on our present times. Now, when I speak of emotions I’m referring to any kind of mental, and sometimes, physical reaction, such as nostalgia, joy, sadness, fear, anger, etc., not an emotional breakdown upon looking at a piece or entering an exhibition, even though it is not unheard of.

A balance between both views is essential for museums today, where the world lives with rapid and substantial changes and uncertainty floods our lifes. Where society lives online, and one’s worth is measured with the number of friends, followers and likes. Where only bad news are delivered to us, and the hopeful and inspiring news are cast to the side being reported in sixty second videos.

When, in the very moment a visitor “feels” a piece, she or he does not only relate emotionally with the subject, but this interaction also creates repercussions in their personal, professional and social life. The visitors gain a deeper understanding of the world around them, double their curiosity, expand their knowledge enrich their lives.

Location

Lisbon, Portugal

Contacts

maria@alatadaquela.pt