RM* reports news about collections from former colonial territories and their future.
RM* enables heritage lovers to inform themselves about developments in this field and reduces the knowledge gap between the global south and the global north.
RM* is for all heritage enthusiasts around the world – both professionals and others – concerned with decolonising collections from colonial areas.
Long ago, I held this Congolese mask in my hands. The dealer claimed it to be very old; he was keen to sell it. But unlike other wooden pieces, which he offered for little money, he asked a big sum for this one. Perhaps, it was indeed old and valuable. Back then, the mask struck a chord with me. Nowadays, it still does.
On December 3, 2025, the Pavillon des Sessions at the Louvre reopened its new layout, now called the Galerie des Cinq Continents or Gallery of the Five Continents. In Maria Pia Guermandi’s opinion, the layout continues to express a Western vision that claims to ‘elevate’ other cultures by granting them admission to the sancta sanctorum of European art.
Some readers wonder why articles by authors, who oppose or are highly critical of restitution, or who publish in anti-restitution channels should be distributed. Some do so in a personal capacity. Others do so on behalf of a conservative institution established specifically for this purpose. RM* offers a three-fold answer.
