In a recent episode of Artnet’s “The Roundup” podcast, Europe editor Kate Brown, alongside international art critic Ben Davis and Wet Paint gossip columnist Annie Armstrong, delved into three headline-making stories in the art world and beyond.
One prominent story at the top of their list revolved around the British Museum. In a shocking turn of events, a curator from the institution is currently under investigation for allegedly stealing approximately 2,000 objects from the museum’s collection.
This incident has sent ripples throughout the global arts community. It’s worth noting the British Museum’s historical stance on safety and security as a key argument against returning the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece.
As this unfolding story continues to captivate audiences, the art world remains engaged and watchful of its developments.
Lina Mendoni, Greece’s Minister of Culture, expressed deep concerns in a recent statement, on what she termed “the deplorable incident of theft” that occurred at the British Museum.
In her remarks, she emphasised that this incident has cast a spotlight on the critical issue of safeguarding and securing all exhibits within the museum’s walls. Mendoni went on to assert that any argument asserting the safety of the Parthenon Sculptures in London over Greece has now crumbled in the face of this incident.
As ongoing disputes continued to intensify, there arose the ominous prospect of new claims emerging. The Global Times, a tabloid newspaper often regarded as a government mouthpiece in China, made a striking declaration in an editorial published on Monday. It called for the British Museum to repatriate all 23,000 Chinese relics held within its collection back to Beijing. The newspaper contended that the British Museum’s halls were replete with artifacts of “questionable origins,” thereby adding another layer to the global discourse surrounding cultural heritage and restitution.
Listen the podcast, here.
