ABC Arts & Museums

Overview & Synopsis

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, structured as an ABC of arts and museums, 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. Through these diverse voices, this Abécédaire rethinks the history of art and museums as an experimental space, transcending disciplinary and geographical boundaries. It offers a fresh, nuanced perspective on contemporary issues in the study of the past while paving new pathways for the future.