The presence of non-Western material heritage in Western museum collections poses one of the most significant challenges today, raising critical questions about provenance, ownership, and the concept of “art”.
This collective volume, edited by Sara Petrella and Mylène Steity, is structured as an ABC of arts and museums. It offers an overview of the intersections between art history and postcolonial studies.
In response to ongoing debates about the decolonization of museums, it provides a space for critical reflection on topics such as ‘ethnographic’ collections, colonial narratives, and Indigenous perspectives.
Bringing together researchers, artists, activists, and committed experts, the book serves as a forum for exchange, blending scholarly articles, artistic contributions, and essays.
- The “ABC of” is an expression that can be used in various situations. Here, we have sought to debate the history of collections, the identification of controversial or sensitive heritage, the biography of objects, restitution, new ethical frameworks, the multiplicity of voices within institutions, collaborations with source communities, and many other “decolonial” discourses and practices which become more accessible through this engaging format.
- Moreover, the “ABC of” might also be applied to the basics of an art or practice, implying the idea of starting from scratch.
- Through this ABC (abécédaire in French), we aimed to rethink arts and museums from a pluralistic perspective, starting with the questions raised by the inclusion of Indigenous and diasporic voices and a critical reflection on colonial history.
