Between Reverence and Reclamation : Musealization of Medieval Church Treasures in Georgia’s National Museum

FILIPOVÁ, Alžběta. Between Reverence and Reclamation : Musealization of Medieval Church Treasures in Georgia’s National Museum. In Demusealisation! Transcultural Encounters with Religious Objects in Museums. Symposium held at the Centre for Religion and Heritage, University of Groningen. 2024.

Basic information

• Original name: Between Reverence and Reclamation : Musealization of Medieval Church Treasures in Georgia’s National Museum
• Authors: FILIPOVÁ, Alžběta.
• Edition: Demusealisation! Transcultural Encounters with Religious Objects in Museums. Symposium held at the Centre for Religion and Heritage, University of Groningen, 2024.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Presentations at conferences
• Field of Study: 60401 Arts, Art history
• Country of publisher: Netherlands
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: event
• Organization unit: Faculty of Arts
• Keywords in English: Religious Objects in Musea; Medieval Georgia; Musealization; Curating Medieval Artefacts; Politics of Art Exibition; Georgian National Treasure
• Tags: International impact

Abstract

The paper aims to unravel the intricate dynamics of musealization of medieval ecclesiastic objects within Georgia’s National Museum, with a special focus on the famous 10th century Khakhuli triptych. The latter was commissioned by Georgia’s most celebrated king Davit the Builder, stolen in late 19th century by a private Russian collector and later repatriated under Stalin’s directive in the 1920’s. Currently held in the possession of Georgian Orthodox Church and exhibited as a centerpiece of the collection coined as Georgian National Treasure, the icon is daily venerated by visitors who treat it with religious reverence. The presentation will thus delve into the interplay between heritage preservation, political and ecclesiastical governance, and communal dynamics.

Links

• 101026166, interní kód MU: Name: Demarginalizing Medieval Georgia: History of Art History between Colonial Perspective and Nationalist Appropriation (1921–1991)

Investor: European Union, MSCA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (Excellent Science)