The topic of museum acquisitions was discussed recently on an episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and while it may sound like a boring and trivial issue, in recent years it has become more important than ever to address the matter head-on and make it right.
The art world is a complicated and weird “place” and museums play a large role in it. As those who work within the art world – artists, curators, art historians, gallery owners, art critics, educators, museum directors, art writers, etc. – strive to make it more inclusive and to celebrate the diversity inherent within the art-making process, museums remain a necessary tool in this societal progression.
That said, museums have a dark history all their own.
If you have ever visited a museum, whether willingly as an enthusiast or begrudgingly as a child on a school field trip, you may have stared in wonder at the thousands of cultural artifacts, artworks and precious objects collected from all over the world. But have you ever considered how the museum came to own those objects?
I was thrilled to see this issue directly addressed in modern pop culture on the biggest platform ever created – the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In Black Panther (2018), the character Killmonger visits a museum in the U.K. and “steals” (or takes back, depending on your perspective) a cultural object originally from Wakanda.
While Wakanda is a fictional country in a universe based on comic books, it is the perfect avatar for all the countries around the world that have had their cultural objects – even sacred and religious objects – acquired by European and Western museums and institutions through tragically and criminally nefarious means.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver presents the issue of museum acquisitions in a clear and concise way so that anyone can understand how diabolical the practice is and it goes on to illustrate just how important it is that the objects be returned to their rightful owners immediately.
To view the “Museums” episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, please follow this link…
To read more about this topic, please follow this link…
To watch the scene from Black Panther in which Killmonger “acquires” the Wakandan artifact from a London museum, please follow this link…
The Wandering Art Historian 
Museums John Oliver video art history thru humor! = Solution. Present & future stop all antiquities leaving countries of origin. Past museum acquisitions keep originals in current museum collections & give replica of object or painting to museum location of origin clearly marked replica. Museum of origin viewers can enjoy replicas & museums retain originals monetary value in collections.
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You make an interesting suggestion, but I would make one small change. I would send the originals back to the countries of origin and have the museums display the replicas. Gotta’ love that John Oliver, though. He sure knows how to discuss challenging topics with wit and humor. 😀
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Interesting topic! And one that reminds of the both/and elements of almost everything. Of course, this is the worst kind of trophy plunder and exploitation! I am taking a Zoom writing class and one of the students is writing a chidren’s book about this. This began a Museum bashing discussion, with a few people suggesting “museums are creepy” and “I never go, yuck.” And, “who needs that kind of self aggrandizement?”
I had just come from the National Museum in DC where I saw the Whistler “Woman in White” exhibit. I had just commented to a friend how marvelous that everyone can go see these art treasures. And, it’s completely free. Making it hugely democratic and accessible. Of course, Whistler was a womanizing cad and treated poor Joanna with such nasty regard. And her art career, completely ignored. So, the historical element becomes a teaching moment….
Tres compliqué as they say. History is a bitch! Are museums creepy?
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I consider myself a Museum Nerd, so I am definitely all for museums, *especially* when they are free to the public. It would be extremely badass if an art institution straight up acknowledged the history of their acquisitions, partnered with the museums/institutions in the countries of origin and then made the whole process of returning the objects into a cross-continent exhibition with lectures, catalogues, online offerings and viewings in both locations. Perhaps making it a media spectacle would encourage more institutions to follow suit. Plus, think of all the positive PR! Crazy idea, I know! 🙂
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If there weren’t such enormous amounts of money involved, that could happen! Museums are having a hard time attracting patrons and donations these days. And unless they have an Instagrammable feature or something experiential, sometimes even attracting museum-goers. These are strange days, for sure.
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Ah yes… money. Too bad no one in the art world has any… *cough, cough* 😉
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