99 Questions - and more of Global Perspectives on Colonial Collections

With the opening of the exhibitions of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, numerous objects will be on display that arrived in Europe during the colonial period under often unequal power relations, sometimes even by force. These objects represent the erasure of knowledge, languages and practices, and are symbols of a context of injustice and violence, both in the past and present. 99 Questions takes a critical look at both institutional as well as German colonial history and aims to promote reflection on the colonial implications of the collections in the long term.

Together with international speakers and thinkers, we will develop ideas for future museum practices through discussing the historical impact of colonialism and its still-present consequences. The dialogue also aims to promote an understanding of the responsibility museums have towards local and global communities in order to make a common future in dealing with colonial legacy conceivable.

Over the course of a year, the project will question the standing of museums with collections from colonial contexts. How do they need to change? What future role can museums play for our society? Topics such as provenance research and restitution, transparency and digitisation, racism in science and representation, colonialism and the interpretational sovereignty of museums and collections will be discussed.

The 99 Questions series is curated by Michael Dieminger in collaboration with the Ethnologisches Museum and the Museum für Asiatische Kunst of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.

• The events always take place at 7 pm. They are in German, English and possibly other languages. They are offered online as digital formats. As soon as accessibility to the Humboldt Forum is possible, the events will be available in hybrid format.
  
• The events are free of charge.
  

Dates:

• More dates will follow in the fall.
  

Our book tip, newly published (only in German language):


Post)Colonialism and Cultural Heritage. International Debates at the Humboldt Forum


Dealing with colonial history and (post-)colonial continuities is one of the great challenges facing the Humboldt Forum. It will decisively shape the work of this cultural institution. In this volume, prominent, globally active museum experts who have accompanied the Humboldt Forum in its development have their say. With their contributions, they take part in international debates, such as the passionate discussion about provenance and restitution of ethnological collections.

With contributions by George Okello Abungu (Nairobi), Kwame Anthony Appiah (New York), Philipp Blom (Vienna), Hartmut Dorgerloh (Berlin), Rita Eder (Mexico City), Hu Wei (Shanghai), Jyotindra Jain (New Delhi), Lars-Christian Koch (Berlin), Lee Chor Lin (Singapore), Neil MacGregor (London), Natalia Majluf (Lima), Wayne Modest (Amsterdam), Nazan Ölçer (Istanbul), Barbara Plankensteiner (Hamburg), Thomas Thiemeyer (Tübingen), Abdoulaye Touré (Dakar)


Hanser Verlag, 2021, 248 pages, € 18,- [D] € 18,50 [A]ISBN 978-3-446-26641-4