Museums are like ZOOs, a photo from London, England

Photographer's Note

Many people have mixed feelings about ZOOs these days. Keeping animals in cages feels so cruel. They certainly live in the captivity much shorter than in the wild. Yet due to the irresponsible activity of humans around the world, so many animal species face extinction, that ironically ZOOs may be soon the only places where you can see some species alive.

Similar reasoning may be applied to large museums. They are often located in countries which were, not such a long time ago, collecting (phrasing it subtly) art from all around the world. I remember visiting great art exhibitions in Germany, you kind of watch a painting and think: how did it get here? British Museum (in this photo) does not have good reputation neither. The most infamous example being the Parthenon Marbles stolen from the most iconic Greek monument. Of course, museum claims they were legally purchased from the thief, so they have not done anything wrong, and the thief said he got permission to vandalize the temple from the Ottoman Empire which was occupying Greece and didn’t care about its cultural treasures at all, but whatever the excuse is, the feeling of disgust remains. Read more about recent (2021) developments in this case below.
On the other hand, similarly to endangered animal species, we have seen in recent years the damage and destruction of the ancient sites which were purposedly executed by the former Islamic State. Taking that into account some treasures gathered from all around the world to the British Museum may have been ironically saved from the destruction, similarly to the endangered animal species, which may be soon seen in ZOO only.
The question remains whether the species, after being saved, should at certain point be released to their natural habitat. That would certainly be a noble approach once they get a chance to thrive in their original countries again. I can imagine that could certainly be a happy end for the Parthenon Marbles.

In 2021 there were two important developments in the case of Parthenon Marbles
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elgin_Marbles#2021)
In March 2021 the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson issued a point-blank rejection of the Parthenon marbles being returned to Greece. Stating "The UK government has a firm longstanding position on the sculptures, which is that they were legally acquired by Lord Elgin under the appropriate laws of the time and have been legally owned by the British Museum’s trustees since their acquisition.”
For the first time, UNESCO, on 30 September 2021, issued a decision calling for the United Kingdom to return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece, beyond the positive recommendations that it has issued for years. Specifically, Decision 22 COM 17 of UNESCO's Inter-Governmental Committee, asks the British government to urgently review its policy against repatriation of the marbles.

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Fis2, PaulVDV, COSTANTINO, jemaflor, Silvio1953, ikeharel, jean113, adramad, mcmtanyel, aliabazari ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

lousat (139308) 2022-01-05 12:56

Ciao Mariusz,I had also read about this Greek-British war on the Parthenon marbles and I think it will take a long time, a legal precedent could be created that would lead to hundreds of new lawsuits, think of our Mona Lisa by Leonardo on which the French they have been making money for many years ... Your way of comparing museums to zoos is interesting, in fact many things I know are saved thanks to museums, or maybe a lot of people made money stealing and selling these works, the discussion would be long. Congratulations on the black and white version, very apt considering the view and the light. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

Fis2 (170839) 2022-01-05 13:28

Czesc Mariusz!
Zastanawia³em siê dlaczego bia³o-czarne zdjêcie.
Po przeczytaniu notaki wszystko sie wyjasnilo.
Pamietam ten dziedziniec i te marmury.
Dobrej nocy.
Krzysztof

PaulVDV (62970) 2022-01-05 16:13

Hello Mariusz,
The origin of the problem dates back to a time when people in certain societies looked down on the countries from where those works of art or artefacts came.
In the Africa Museum in Belgium (Tervuren) research is done now into the origin of things in the collection.
It is investigated which objects are in possession but can actually be regarded as possible looted art.
In the past, it was often concealed that a museum had looted art.
Now a procedure is being drawn up about what should happen if someone claims certain looted art.
As for the zoo: Some animals are born in captivity but later released into their natural habitat. This happens with pandas, for example.
Under the heavily obscured sky you still managed to get a very clear and sharp photo.
Best regards, Paul

COSTANTINO (116560) 2022-01-05 22:09

Hello dear friend
have a pleasant day for today
thanks for your sharing about
Museums...you are absolutely
right about your thoughts...
I did nt now that in March 21Boris
Johnson issued a point black
of the parthenon marbles being returned
to Greece...I do not agree with the
...phrase...they were legally acquired by
Lord elgin under the appropriate
laws....which laws???the Ottoman laws
or the european laws????iI am feeling
so sad looking at Parthenon which stands
proud on te acropolis rock...without
its marbles....
lets hope that in the future the situation
will change....
thanks dear friend too much for your
understanding
regards
Costantino

ifege (48135) 2022-01-05 22:18

Hi Mariusz
You live in a country that has been famous for "liberating" artifacts and especially the museum in this photo.
A good B&W photo with excellent contrast.
cheers
Ian

jemaflor (147204) 2022-01-05 23:00

Hi Mariusz,
Excellent photo, great sharpness and good symmetry, in b&w the contrast is photogenic, tfs.

Silvio1953 (221695) 2022-01-05 23:25

Ciao Abmdsudi, lovely B&W composition with walking people and imposing museum, nice symmetry, splendid light, fine details and excellent clarity, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

jhm (211736) 2022-01-06 5:05

Hello Mariusz,

I know the much people are against a Zoo, but all animals becomes very well catered, certainly in Belgium she getting much controles!
Wonderful building in background too.
Excellent composition, splendid presentation.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

ikeharel (113411) 2022-01-06 5:15

Hello Mariusz,
I tend to state that zoos in some way saving animals from people, same apply to museum - unless they are filled with
theft art and/or archeological items.
Anyway, a B&W picture from mid-winter day in London, well applied.
Good afternoon,
Ike

jean113 (27893) 2022-01-06 9:16

Hello Mariusz, some very interesting notes, lots of questions with lots of possible answers I think.
Excellent point of view creating a symmetrical picture.
There is so much to see here, one has to decide upon one small section to study otherwise one gets swamped with so much information.
Kind regards, Jean.

goodwill (4274) 2022-01-06 9:52

The beauty of the photograph is that it draws me in. Seems that I am a part of the crowd here. What impresses most is the symmetry or the perfect cropping from each side. Choice of B& W makes the shot more interesting to watch.

jmdias (115230) 2022-01-06 12:37

mariusz

during my last trip I had a discussion with a friend of tour because these marbles. he said they should be sent to greece, because they were stolen, etc..
of course most of ancient objects in museuns in europe would be lost if they had stayed in their homeland originally. the laws before 20th century weren't so nice to protect art. it is the same you say a historic personage of 16th should to use the laws of nowadays.
I liked this view of the classic frontage of the museum.

take care

jorge

adramad (73006) 2022-01-08 5:04

Hi Mariusz.
Your note is very interesting, it would give a lot to comment on what we consider looting and what protection, it is complicated.
With animals there may be other solutions if the countries cooperate, yesterday I saw on TV a documentary about the Osprey, which in southern Spain was practically extinct, a cooperation program with Germany has allowed, that in nests where there are more than Three chicks remove one and it is raised by this organization and when it is able to live by itself, it is transferred to its habitat, which in this case was Spain. Now the species is recovered in Spain. Fantastic!!!.
Regarding the photo, it seems great to me, its symmetry and verticality perfect, with optimal detail with its good gradation of grays.
Very well done. I love it.
Enjoy the weekend.
Very best regards.
Luis.

BennyV (34748) 2022-01-11 9:52

Great bl/w picture, well defined and certainly good move to go for bl/w here, Mariusz. I do agree with your ideas on the Parthenon marbles and colonial art and artefacts in general.

I don't really agree when it comes to paintings, though. I'm always very proud to see the works by painters from my city (like Rubens, Van Dyck or Bruegel) in museums all over the world. They don't hang there because they were robbed, but because of the political or economic powers that be (were). Paintings were usually bought/sold, that's very different.

Benny

mcmtanyel (68593) 2022-02-01 20:10

Hello Mariusz,
Nice photo taken during COVID times. It looks nice in B&W, too. True, the Ottoman sultans did not care about antiquities in Athens any more than the ones in Troy.
Regards,
MT

aliabazari (22255) 2022-03-21 21:53

Hello Mariusz
A beautiful view of this architecture. The choice (black and white) is smart. Good resolution and exposure. It always bothers me a lot to hear about damage to antiquities, nature and animals. Thanks