During the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, thousands of ancient Iraqi artefacts were looted from the Iraq Museum of Baghdad. In the ensuing years, actions were taken to recover the priceless ancient items, some of which date back to 6,100 BC; however, only a third of them were taken back. Now, in an effort to let people outside the country grasp the significance of these objects in the formation of the so-called cradle of civilization, the museum, in an unusual move, will allow them to be taken out of the country — to the 2017 Venice Biennale.
“These objects do have a universality that transcends geography and I think that’s such an important message to be relaying at this time and against the global backdrop of a place like Venice. It fights a cultural prejudice people have and the perception that there is no art now left in Iraq or nothing left worth saving,” said co-curator Tamara Chalabi.
Listen beautiful relax classics on our Youtube channel.
Chalabi also cited the necessity to salvage what these artefacts represent from terrorist group ISIL’s destruction of them.
“It is more important than ever that people outside of Iraq see these objects and understand their cultural significance, at a time when they are being nihilistically destroyed in Palmyra, in Nimrud, in Mosul,” said Chalabi.
The 2017 Venice Biennale will take place from May 13 to Nov. 26.
Source: designfaves.com