In a recent interview with the Arts Newspaper (April issue),Ronald de
Leeuw, director of the Rijksmuseum discussed his revolutionary changes to
integrate the departments of fine and decorative arts. His plans includes
displaying a mixture of art and history objects together telling the story
of Dutch culture.
I am wondering, if there are any other examples of how history and art
departments in larger - or even smaller- museums have worked together to
integrate exhibitions. What approaches have been taken? A thematic or
chronological approach? What dangers and problems are there in showing art
and history together? How does one confront others with issues such
nationalism, colonialism or taboo's within that society's culture? How does
one avoid creating stereotypical displays and perhaps even run the chance
of glorifying its nation's history? ( And perhaps even run the chance of
creating of its nations' ultimate and one side story to history... The public might therefore think: it-is- true because it is the museum!) Is there still room
to explain the more abstract and political ideas to the public? And how? Or by taking by trying to integrate its displays the Rijksmuseum is becoming a
more marketable to a larger non museum public and is just shaking off its
elitist armour? And perhaps nothing to worry about at all.. and in fact just moving towards an accessible museum and in the right direction
I guess.... I am just looking for good and bad examples around the world or
perhaps even literature of how museums deal with history and what are some
of the more current practices when showing its nation's past...
Michele Jacobs
