[MSN] FORBIDDEN COLLECTIONS? Ethical issues at the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities

[Museum Security Network Mailing list]

12 June 2007
FORBIDDEN COLLECTIONS?
Ethical issues at the National Museum of Antiquities 

The exhibition ‘Forbidden Collections?” at the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden) devotes full attention to the ethical and museum-related issues the museum faces nearly every day. The National Museum of Antiquities is jumping in the current debates in the international museum world. Dilemmas concerning human remains, authenticity, de-accessioning and provenance are discussed, illustrated by authentic objects from the museum’s own collection. The museum chooses a position in each dilemma and visitors are invited to take part in the discussion. The exhibition opens its doors to the public on 12 June. 

There is a great deal of discussion about what is and what is not permitted in museums. Questions such as ‘what should be done with art expropriated during World War II’ or ‘objects originating from an illegal excavations’ and ‘should unwrapped Egyptian mummies be exhibited to a large public?’ are questions the National Museum of Antiquities faces regularly in collecting and exhibiting its archaeological collections. In the modern and confrontational design of ‘Forbidden Collections?’, the museum offers visitors a glimpse behind the scenes, based on fifteen current issues, divergent viewpoints and objects from its own collections. Visitors can actively participate in the discussions by voicing their own opinions at an ‘interactive table’. This also offers the opportunity to explore the issues in more detail. 

The dilemmas of the exhibition are illustrated with authentic objects from the museum’s own collection. A bronze cuirass that the Italian government claimed a few years ago to be illegally excavated and a painting from the Goudstikker collection as an example of looted art, are central to the theme of ‘Provenance’. Mummies of Egyptian children, mummy heads and human skulls from excavations from the Netherlands illustrate the issues connected to ‘Collecting and exhibiting human remains’. The thousands of Roman oil lamps in the museum depot are on display as part of the ‘De-accessioning’ theme. In addition, a series of false and authentic Etruscan bronze statuettes and heavily to minimally restored Greek vases are food for thought about the ‘Authenticity’ of museum objects. 

While the exhibition is on display, there will be public debates in the museum’s Temple Hall and a lecture about the exhibition (programme at www.rmo.nl).

The exhibition was made possible with the support of the Mondrian Foundation.