"The conservation and restoration of negative heritage", an article that Ruth Taberner and I have published, about the problem of preserving (or not) the most contested heritage (in Spanish). #OpenAccess #GeConservación #Article

It is often asked to what extent it makes sense to restore a legacy that is extremely negative and harmful to a significant part of society and that has no other significant values that would provide an incentive for its restoration. In some cases many pieces have been destroyed as Nazi and communist sculptures. In Spain a project was presented to melt down the equestrian sculpture of Franco that was originally in the Plaza de España in Ferrol (La Coruña).

#CulturalHeritage #ConservationRestoration #Preservation #NegativeHeritage #ContestedHeritage #Politics #Political #History #Memory

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https://ge-iic.com/ojs/index.php/revista/article/view/1232/1149

CONTESTED HISTORIES

"The Contested Histories Initiative seeks practical remedies to contestations over historical markers in public spaces as part of broader efforts to create more inclusive and equitable societies, particularly for and with communities that have been marginalised or disenfranchised due to race, ethnicity, gender, or other affiliations."

An example:
VICTORY MONUMENT (Bolzano, Italy): "The Victory Monument in Bolzano was erected on the orders of Benito Mussolini in 1928. Since then, it has been at the symbolic centre of ethnic clashes between the German- and Italian-speaking communities, as well as a symbol of the unresolved legacy of Italian Fascism".

#ContestedHeritage #Heritage #CulturalHeritage #Fascism #ContestedHistories #Italy #Mussolini #NegativeHeritage #History #Architecture

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https://contestedhistories.org/

https://contestedhistories.org/wp-content/uploads/Italy-Victory-Monument-in-Bolzano.pdf

An interesting view on how political vandalism can transform contested heritage: “Transforming problematic commemorations through vandalism” (Chong-Ming Lim, 2020). You may not entirely agree, but it gives food for thought.

https://www.cmlim.info/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2020-transforming-commemorations.pdf

#ContestedHeritage #Vandalism #PoliticalAction #PoliticalHeritage #Ethics

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Source image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fireatwillrva/50021077452/in/photostream/ (Author: Will Fisher)

#ARTNews "New Bill in Florida Would Allow Civilians to Sue When Confederate Monuments Are Damaged or Removed" by Karen K. Ho
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/proposed-legislation-florida-sb1096-civilians-lawsuits-damage-removal-confederate-monuments-1234665451/

On the fight against Confederate monuments and the GOP counteroffensives I recommend "Smashing Statues" by Erin L. Thompson (2022) and "No Common Ground" by Karen L. Cox (2021).

#ConfederateMonuments #Heritage #ContestedHeritage #NegativeHeritage #SmashingStatues
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