Base on Kerstin Barndt’s article, there are three key moment
in time that the Neues Museum deals with ‘ruin discourse’. The events are as
follows: The opening of the Neues Museum, The reconstruction and reopening of
the Neues Museum, and the Greek Courtyard. The opening of the Neues Museum
connect with ‘ruin discourse’ as it is a collection of artifacts from
civilizations and periods that have ended due to conflict of some form. Whether
that conflict was physical such as an invasion of one over the other or a
conflict of the civilization versus the elements of their situation. The Neues
Museum is a collection of fallen civilization by some means of conflict. The
Neues Museum itself is also a reflection of ‘ruin discourse’ as it has
undergone conflict itself and bears the scars of the conflict with pride. The
scars of conflict can also be seen in the Greek Courtyard. The Greek Courtyard
is a combination of the past and the present has Schievelbeins Fries’ "The
destruction of Pompeii" portrays the civilians of Pompeii running away
from the lava with all forms of culture into the welcome arms of two hosts. The
hosts, who bear a resemblance to Stüler and Olfers (museum officials), meet the
citizens to take the symbolic things into their custody from the destroyed Pompeii.
The panoramic sculpture by Fries reflected the Museum as a place where the lost
culture is preserved.[1]
The idea of ‘ruin discourse’ is also exhibited through the museums opening as a
collection of ruins and as a ruin itself with the scars of the conflict it has
seen.
[1] Annette
Meier, " Schievelbeins fries "The destruction of Pompeii" A
disaster with happy output," 2015, <
http://www.museumsportal-berlin.de/de/magazin/das-neue-museum/schievelbeins-fries-die-zerstorung-pompejis/
> (accessed May 15, 2015).
3 comments:
In this Greek courtyard the pictures on the wall that were missing on the one side, do you think they should have something showing what they used to be? I think that it would be interesting to see what was destroyed.
Yes I believe that would be interesting to see what it was like before the destruction. We could even extend that idea to the rest of the damage within the Museum as we only see the aftermath of the destruction in the artifacts rather than their prime condition. Contrasting the pre a post damage would help give some interesting perspective as well.
I think that having some sort of photo evidence or mock up of what was originally there would be amazing. It is easier to get a sense of the former life of a building when their are more visual tools, at least for me. That why I love that there is a section of the wall left. I know that some people see it as a pain or just a tourist attraction, but I think it is important to have because it is hard to grasp just how big, powerful and isolating it is without seeing at least part of it.
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