ICOM Kyoto 2019
Museums as Cultural Hubs: The Future of Tradition

During the week of 1–7 September 2019, the city of Kyoto welcomed 4,500 international participants to the ICOM General Conference. ICOM is the International Council of Museums. This triennial gathering set out to inspire a range of discussions and exchanges on museum-related and cultural issues. Through sessions, excursions, workshops, and networking events participants were able to engage with peers and other professionals and enthusiasts to broaden their experiences and understanding of museums’ role in the world today.
After an official opening ceremony on Monday 2nd of September with the Emperor Naruhito, his wife, Empress Masako, and numerous dignitaries and ministers present the first keynote speaker, the architect Kengo Kuma, took the stand. He introduced the ICC Kyoto and its Main Hall as the very venue, where the Kyoto Protocol was adopted on 11th of December 1997 by 192 nations. The international treaty, which has been extending the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, has been committing 1) state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions based on the scientific consensus, that global warming is occurring and 2) that human-made CO2 emissions have predominantly caused it. It entered into force on 16th of February 2005. In presenting his work and philosophy Kuma, who is also a professor, displayed character and form of his buildings through combining solid masonry constructions based on tradition with the lightness and transparency of wooden structures built from local timber in order to juxtapose solidity and weakness as ambiguous characteristics of human makings. These are his favourite metaphors and bridge to the human condition and nature’s force, beauty and frailty. The following moderation by Danish curator and ICOM president Mrs. Jette Sandahl recalled the importance and sensibility of the topic climate change
and its application to museums.
I initially was very thrilled of having come in high spirits to the ICOM conference to meet with the world elite of museum and culture makers. I came as part of a group of designers and consultants. I have been working as a project manager, technical director and energy consultant in the entertainment industry for over a decade after an enigmatic career as production designer and producer in Hollywood. One of my accomplishments in recent years was planning and equipping the very first media center with LED technology in Astana, Kazakhstan in 2011, housing 14 large-scale state-of-the-art television studios. Promoted to Business Development Director I contracted foresight consultants and think tanks to help the cause of commerce. I eventually started my own consultancy based on my recent doctoral research to foster education and help the cause of saving our planet. It has been my deepest concern to make a difference and live accordingly to plan for a healthy future and fostering new methods for tackling emergent social issues. Ergo, there are many societies and tasks, but only one nature.
As I witnessed ICOM staff, all the distinguished keynote speakers and panellists talking about “sustainability“, “the future of life“ or “the future of tradition“, I was convinced to be among peers until I was bombarded by lunch boxes, vacuum-packed tooth picks and walls of wooden sake containers stacked up high illuminated by fancy fire works, just to mention some of the obsolete Japanese traditions. People enjoyed it. When I looked at the tiny pieces of tuna through the glass-thick plastic covers, I imagined the infamous Japanese industrial fishing fleet catching rare fish off the coast of Greenland before loading the iced fillets onto cargo planes heading back to the local Kyoto catering kitchen or Family Market. One participant calmed down my politically-incorrect outcry and said, I was paranoid, that this fish would come from local hatcheries. I felt relief. Regardless, I ordered the veggie version in the jewelry box. After lunch I took a long walk to digest my confusion while anguish arose to find a trash can. It was properly hidden behind some dividers and secured by a uniformed guard in perfect regalia. Hai.
Back on the floor 4000+ members of the International Council of Museums cared about a new definition of their purpose. I understood, that museums today are under enormous self-inflicted pressure to adopt to the new rules in the game called civilisation. Everything seems to change. Audiences have to be attracted and entertained. Exponats marketed. Education granted. Technology implemented and continuously upgraded. Google answers: “The traditional role of museums is to collect objects and materials of cultural, religious and historical importance, preserve them, research into them and present them to the public for the purpose of education and enjoyment.“ That sounds simple enough. When I looked into my welcome bag, which weight many kilos of glossy printed materials I found the magazine MUSEUM international, Vol. 71 with the title: The Museum Definition, the backbone of Museums . Screening this issue I found a big array of topics more of less relevant to the job of a museum and spoiling what would be said in several of the presentations of the main panellists. The members resisted to do a simple job. By voicing their professionalism they yearned for recognition and existential solace standing on a crossroad threatened by economical schemes and destabilisation of democracies due to globalisation, loss of identities in youth and entire societies by the same schemes promoted and sold by Silicon Valley nerds and the destruction of our natural habitat. The world has been upset, indeed.
The next two days I appreciated more insights into the discussion at large about the museum world pleasantly distracted by presentations of Sebastião Salgado, world-class photographer from Brazil, who painted the Amazon and its tribes in gorgeous black and white and Chinese megastar artist Cai Guo-Quang, who articulated his work in broad strokes and literally blew my mind with gunpowder.
Whenever I heard catch phrases like Sustainability or Climate Change I felt sorry. It’s just rhetoric. I prefer actions like Responsibility and People Change . When do people change? Ask yourself.
Schreibkram - paperwork




