work in progress
The role of exhibitions in a changing world
work in progress by Manique Hendricks
Last year I organized an evening on how cultural institutions take action against institutional racism. During the online event I read a statement by Dutch artist and cultural activist Patricia Kaersenhout: “The entire origins of museums can be defined as racist and colonial. In fact, they should all dissolve to reinvent themselves all over again.” Which got me thinking; is it possible to make change in the world and imagine a (decolonized) future together from within the institution whose collections and foundations are often rooted in colonialism and violence? What could be the role of exhibitions within this framework?
Almost all museums have long established roots in often one-way exhibiting, lineair presentations and top-down educational practices, which often leads to a one sided, single-voiced way of storytelling. In a rapidly changing world, characterized by societal and cultural shifts, the need for museums to become more inclusive, empathetic and more integrative of perspectives from outside of the institution has become more urgent and visible. For decades, black activists and activists of colour have shared their expertise and experiences with museums. The time for waiting, deliberating behind closed doors and hosting ‘thematic’ exhibitions is over, giving artists, curators and researchers only a temporary seat at the table.
How can you reframe a dominant narrative? Exhibitions can be a way of reframing a dominant narrative and can lead to changes of approach, of studying collections, of narrative, representation and work practices. But it’s been proven hard to ensure that these changes will have a long-term impact within institutions. Exhibitions have always evolved with the continuously changing demands of society while at the same time questioning and sometimes even criticizing those very demands. They act as a mirror for society, reflecting what society
deems as interesting, beautiful or important at that time by means of display. Exhibitions can give an insight into histories of the world, providing lessons to learn from past events, stories, wonders and tragedies. It’s important to ask what the role of museums and exhibitions has been and what it can become while finding common ground and imagining a better future together.
In conclusion the question could become: can exhibitions change the world? Exhibitions might not immediately change the world we inhabit, and can not change the museum and its foundations. But it’s possible to reframe dominant narratives, stimulate and celebrate representation and form a starting point for imagining a better future together.