Conservation as a Tool for Cultural Rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: The We have gaps Project

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper outlines the aim, methodology, and initial results of a joint initiative between two universities (Université de Kinshasa in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Université de Liège in Liège, Belgium), two conservation training courses (Academy of Fine Arts of Kinshasa and École Supérieure des Arts Saint-Luc in Liège), and the Institute of National Museums of Congo. The Nous avons des lacunes (We have gaps) project plays on the notion of loss – both material and of knowledge – to involve communities in the construction of endogenous knowledge on the conservation of objects: a task to be carried out by the Congolese, for the Congolese. For many Congolese, concepts such as ‘museum’ and ‘conservation’ sound foreign, and the idea of cultural rights remains highly abstract and theoretical. The challenge is to transform the manifestation of these rights through conservation into a real tool for empowerment. The exhibition concept is two-fold: conservators explain what loss or material alteration has occurred in a specific object, and how they remedy it, thus arousing interest in a little-known profession. At the same time, they show and explain their own gaps in knowledge, and ask the public for information about the technique, function, use, naming, or names of the mystery object in the four national languages and numerous Congolese idioms. The Nous avons des lacunes project aims to highlight the role and involvement of communities and different social entities as active guardians of their heritage, by humbly admitting the lack of knowledge among professionals.