The debate of repatriation of art is one I don’t hold solid beliefs on yet. The idea of stolen art being returned to its rightful owner is of course reasonable, buty what if the artists who created certain pieces were unreachable. The fate of a work is usually decided by the artist himself or herself. If they would like it shown in a certain place in a certain way. Ancient art was more so found amongst developing societies usually not being displayed as the artist intended. So is someone of the street where to come into collection of a timeless artifact made thousands of years in the past, who does it belong to. Legally there is not a lot of footing saying that that piece doesnt now just belong to you. Morally this item belongs in a place where many can bask in its glory, so by this reasoning it should belong in a museum. But what museum should have the power to carry such an important piece over another. Origin place a big role in this decision making. Many think these works belong in their native home. To honor the place the artist came from or where the medium they used came from. What is cerain is that the issue of repatriation comes with much controversy.
Most recently a series of Belgian art curators and historians came to know that they were in possession of looted artifacts in their own museums. Belgian Secretary of State for Scientific Policies, Thomas Dermine states that “the country is considering returning hundreds of objects”, referring to the Democratic Republic of Congo. In this case I think that it is Justified that Belgium has come to terms with owning artifacts that would be better suited in the hands of their original creators. I think that civil agreement amongst countries and Native artifacts like this is a very constructive way of being diplomatic within the art culture and to pay tribute.
Works cited and further links on Repatriation
https://www.widewalls.ch/magazine/repatriation-cultural-treasures
New York times “Why We Need Repatriation”– https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/17/learning/stolen-art-why-we-need-repatriation.html
Tweedie, Neil. “The Koh-i-Noor: Diamond Robbery?” The Telegraph, 29 July 2010.
Boissoneault, Lorraine. “The British Museum Was a Wonder of Its Time — but Also a Product of Slavery.” Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Oct. 2017.