Architecture – New York – Architect Libeskind: looted art does not contribute to enlightenment – culture

New York / Berlin (dpa) – In view of the debate about looted art, star architect Daniel Libeskind has called for artefacts to be returned to their countries of origin. “I am against stolen art by imperial powers that is hoarded and portrayed as an achievement of Western civilization. It is a contradiction: How can you steal something and then claim that you educate the public?” Said Libeskind of the German press agency .

Rather, German museums, among others, would have to explain to the public why certain art no longer hangs on their walls. “I think that would encourage people to understand ethically that the story is not about violence, but about justice.” It is not just about the Holocaust, but pieces stolen all over the world. Libeskind, Polish-American architect and builder of the Jewish Museum in Berlin, among others, will be 75 years old on May 12th.

In Germany, the debate had recently focused on looted property from the colonial era. The first Benin bronzes are to be returned to Nigeria next year. A group of German museum experts and political leaders agreed on this at the end of April. Bronzes from the royal palace of the then Kingdom of Benin can be found in many German museums. Most of the objects came from the British looting in 1897.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210506-99-485778 / 2

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