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Well, I donated $2, and that was with intention of going back again to see another section of the museum, which I never did.
I know this is slighty off topic, but is or is not the Natural History Museum on a donation system, too? Because when I went there I didn't see a sign anywhere mentioning this, although I read somewhere that it was. So I forked over my $, then the admission clerk thanked me for it (?).
I believe it is but they try not to advertise that fact to adults as they want as many people paying full price as possible.
I wish it all were as nice and clean as Bluesbabe describes. But I'm afraid it's not true. Antiquities trading is not a fair game.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm no expert on antiquities trading. And if those Chinese pieces were to return to their origins then they should be protected in museums there. Re-burying would most likely encourage even more looting.
But I'm glad that Saobi had the opportunity to see the exhibit, although it is obvious that he fought mixed feelings over it.
More recently, during the invasion of Iraq, so many priceless artifacts were destroyed and stolen.
Its terrible the blatant disrespect people have for entire civilizations still to this day.
The trade in works of art with unsubstantiated provenance is nothing new, and sometimes museums have been unwittingly complicit in this regard. Until recently, many did not do their own investigation other than to authenticate the piece, not as to how the donor obtained the merchandise, or the dealer who sold it to them. There have been scandals at the best auction houses regarding this, so the industry is starting to take a more critical eye.
Just look at all of the art looted by the Nazis that has yet to be accounted for, much less restored to its rightful owners. Parts of the Goudstikker collection have been recovered in recent years, many from museums, but this is a case that has had an art detective scouring the catalogs, collections, backrooms, and vaults to find some of the pieces. In that kind of a case, it's easier to substantiate from whom the works were taken and to whom they should be returned, whereas with antiquities that may have been legitimately purchased from an auction house, or even in some cases government officials, it's more of a grey area in the provenance, hence the many legal battles that have ensued over title to such pieces.
With some pieces, it is fairly easy to ascertain that they were originally obtained through illicit means, but others are not. And, just because a subsequent regime has decided that the item is rightfully theirs and a cultural treasure does not make it such that all examples out of the country have to be repatriated if it was legal trade when the original transaction took place. Museums that display authentic works of art are not all guilty of illicit trade, and many are legally owned by the collection or the collections on loan for display.
Besides its supported by so many Blue Blooded Americans so that everyone can see it. They have so much money they feel guilty about it, so they donate to make themselves feel better and get tax breaks.
Art should be free to view.
If you are rich pay, if not pay what you can afford. Thats my philosophy.
Also, in the modern painting section. There is a large painting with just random scribbles on it. A worker can accidentally spill paint over it, and the next day no one will notice, and they'll still say "Ah, what a great painting".
What is the meaning of modern abstract painting? And is this not "emperor's new clothes"?
Also, in the modern painting section. There is a large painting with just random scribbles on it. A worker can accidentally spill paint over it, and the next day no one will notice, and they'll still say "Ah, what a great painting".
What is the meaning of modern abstract painting? And is this not "emperor's new clothes"?
The same worker could break an entire arm off a Greek statue and the next day no one would notice.
Cy Twombly always makes people mad, me included. But his work is beautiful....
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