Contemporary art in archaeology museums: interaction between art and archaeology. A case study of the National Museum of Antiquities (RMO)

MA thesis is based on a research done in the National Museum of Antiquities (RMO).The aim of this study was to explore how RMO’s contemporary art exhibition policy fits in the context of contemporary museum practices regarding contemporary art. The author traced the beginnings of displaying and juxtaposing contemporary art together with non- art objects. This approach was firstly used during the Primitivism, an art movement in the early 20th century. Therefore a framework of the most famous Primitivism exhibition "Primitivism" in 20th Century Art: Affinity of the Tribal and the Modern (Museum of Modern Art, New York City, 1984) was chosen to analyze the exhibitions held in RMO. The outcome of the study shows that contemporary artists are engaged with themes that are archaeology- related. However, two of the Primitivism characteristics: aestheticism and juxtaposing contemporary and non- art objects are still present in the current exhibition practices in RMO. Contemporary art...Show moreMA thesis is based on a research done in the National Museum of Antiquities (RMO).The aim of this study was to explore how RMO’s contemporary art exhibition policy fits in the context of contemporary museum practices regarding contemporary art. The author traced the beginnings of displaying and juxtaposing contemporary art together with non- art objects. This approach was firstly used during the Primitivism, an art movement in the early 20th century. Therefore a framework of the most famous Primitivism exhibition "Primitivism" in 20th Century Art: Affinity of the Tribal and the Modern (Museum of Modern Art, New York City, 1984) was chosen to analyze the exhibitions held in RMO. The outcome of the study shows that contemporary artists are engaged with themes that are archaeology- related. However, two of the Primitivism characteristics: aestheticism and juxtaposing contemporary and non- art objects are still present in the current exhibition practices in RMO. Contemporary art displayed in RMO partly fits in the art trend called historiographic turn. However it is mostly a visual inspiration instead of in- depth study of the past which is a main requirement for historiographic turn.Show less

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Contemporary art in archaeology museums: interaction between art and archaeology. A case study of the National Museum of Antiquities (RMO)