#Restitutions: Objects of Art under Question

What is actually restored when an object is returned to its community of origin? Beyond the legal and political dimensions, the question of restitution invites us to reconsider the very status of objects held in museums, the narratives that surround them, and the ways in which they are perceived.

The fourth discussion in the #Restitutions. Another Definition of the World series offers an interdisciplinary reflection on the notions of the "work" and the "art object," taking into account the cultural, ritual, political, and social meanings that communities attribute to these objects. Many items now displayed as works of art in museums in former colonial powers originally fulfilled ritual, political, or social functions. Their exhibition has contributed to transforming their status.

Emmanuel Kasarhérou, President of the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, and Didier Houénoudé, Professor of Art History at the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin, will discuss how history has shaped what we understand as "art" and "heritage," and explore ways of deconstructing these inherited frameworks in order to foster more meaningful dialogue with source communities.

The talk will be moderated by the journalist Valérie Nivelon (RFI).

Emmanuel Kasarhérou has served as President of the Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac since 2020. He joined the institution in 2011, where he notably curated the exhibition Kanak: Art Is a Word, before being appointed Deputy Director for Heritage and Collections in 2014. From 2006 to 2011, he directed the Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Nouméa, following his involvement with the Kanak Culture Development Agency in the centre's planning and the development of its artistic vision. This built upon a long-standing commitment that began in 1985, when he was appointed curator of the Museum of New Caledonia, dedicated to the cultures of the Kanak people and the Pacific.

#Restitutions. Another definition of the world

A series of talks co-designed and moderated by Valérie Nivelon (creator of the podcast Africaines Queens and the radio program La Marche du monde on RFI).

On June 7, 1978, Amadou Mahtar M’Bow, the first African Director-General of UNESCO, issued a “solemn appeal” to governments, cultural institutions, museums, libraries, historians, and artists for the restitution of cultural property to their countries of origin. Nearly fifty years after this landmark call, where do we stand on the question of return?

The series #Restitutions. Another Definition of the World offers a space for reflection and dialogue on the restitution of artworks and cultural property acquired in contexts of violence and domination, as well as on the issues of memory, justice, and the circulation of heritage that these claims raise. Through seven conversations bringing together researchers, legal scholars, museum professionals, and cultural practitioners, the series seeks to provide analytical tools and contribute to more just, collaborative, and sustainable practices.

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