Deutsches Historisches Museum - Verf�hrung Freiheit. Kunst in Europa seit 1945 - Blog

The story of a museum is written not only by its objects and exhibitions but also and foremost by its visitors. Without its visitors, as Jane put it, a museum is ‘just a room with beautiful paintings, sculptures and installations’. To fill it with life, you need people who are willing to experience what a museum has to offer. To bring the museum’s objects to life, you need someone who can tell their story. One of these people is Jane Meresmaa-Roos, who works at Kumu’s Art Education Programme.  

One of the many problems museum conservators have with contemporary or modern art is how to actually conserve and preserve the art works. Many of them were never made to last longer than a couple of months – the duration of an exhibition – or just a couple of hours or days. Not to mention those cases in which art works were not recognized as such and cleaned or thrown away. A nightmare for any artist or conservator.  

Our exhibition has just opened in Tallinn – the third and for now last station of 'The Desire for Freedom. Art in Europe since 1945'. Not only has the city (and country) changed, also the name is different: 'Critique and Crises. Art in Europe since 1945' is the new and at the same time old title. Why old?

Yesterday marked the end of our four-month presentation of The Desire for Freedom in Berlin. The artworks are already being packed for transport. The opening in the Palazzo Reale in Milan will happen in one month. Yesterday we held a closing event for The Desire for Freedom, although it is not common practice at the DHM.  

How do the museum guides prepare themselves for ever new exhibitions? What are the challenges facing a museum guide? And which is his favourite picture? We placed these and many more questions to our museum guide Philippe Carasco, who, by the way, was also the guide for our #MuseUp.