Full Description
Over the last two decades, the encyclopedic museum has been criticized and praised, constantly discussed, and often in the news. Encyclopedic museums are a phenomenon of Europe and the United States, and their locations and mostly Eurocentric collections have in more recent years drawn attention to what many see as bias. Debates on provenance in general, cultural origins, and restitutions of African heritage have exerted pressure on encyclopedic museums, and indeed on all matter of museums. Is there still a place for an institution dedicated to gathering, preserving, and showcasing all the world's cultures?
Donatien Grau's conversations with international arts officials, museum leaders, artists, architects, and journalists go beyond the history of the encyclopedic format and the last decades' issues that have burdened existing institutions. Are encyclopedic museums still relevant? What can they contribute when the Internet now seems to offer the greater encyclopedia? How important is it for us to have in-person access to objects from all over the world that can directly articulate something to us about humanity? The fresh ideas and nuances of new voices on the core principles important to museums in Dakar, Abu Dhabi, and Mumbai complement some of the world's arts leaders from European and American institutions-resulting in some revealing and unexpected answers. Every interviewee offers differing views, making for exciting, stimulating reading.
Contents
Preface and Acknowledgments
Introduction
The Encyclopedic Museum: A Catchphrase, a Concept, a History Donatien Grau
Part 1. Origins and Practice of Encyclopedic Museums
1. Marc Fumaroli
2. Partha Chatterjee
3. Krzysztof Pomian
4. Mikhail Piotrovsky
5. Philippe de Montebello
6. Grayson Perry
7. Thomas Campbell
8. Kaywin Feldman
9. Mari Carmen Ramirez
Part 2. Encyclopedic Museums across the Globe
10. Irina Bokova
11. Fiammetta Rocco
12. Zaki Nusseibeh
13. Michael Govan
14. Max Hollein
15. Sabyasachi Mukherjee
16. Henri Loyrette
17. George Abungu
18. Hamady Bocoum
19. Amit Sood
Part 3. Methodologies and Potentials of the Encyclopedic Museum
20. James Cuno
21. Jean Nouvel
22. Benedicte Savoy
23. Kavita Singh
24. Anthony Appiah
25. Homi Bhabha
26. Camille Henrot
27. Massimiliano Gioni
28. Bachir Souleymane Diagne
Afterword
The Encyclopedic Museum: Some Thoughts from 2019 Mary E. Miller
Biographical Note on the Editor
Index
