The initiative No Humboldt 21! has published under the name of
“
Decolonial Objections to the Humboldt Forum“, designed a poster campaign to point out the problematic contents of the “prestige project”.
“Collecting” cultural and art objects was one of the favorite pastimes of many “explorers” and colonialists. Thus, a large number of the ethnological objects to be exhibited in the Humboldt Forum in the reconstructed Berlin Palace were “acquired” during the colonial period – a considerable proportion came directly from the former German colonies. In many cases, however, valuable cultural assets were not given away or sold voluntarily. They were obtained, extorted or simply looted. In the Berlin Palace, the “Dialogue of Cultures” is now to be brought to the center of the city with the help of these objects. As part of the campaign “No Humboldt 21!” we are opposing this cynical prestige project by displaying exemplary objects with problematic acquisition histories on posters in public space. We call on Berlin’s state museums to be more transparent and to engage in respectful dialogue with the societies of origin, which should decide for themselves what happens to their treasures.” Description of the poster campaign of “No Humboldt 21!