Why do we even go to museums? Asked to take the museum thoroughly to task, both institutionally and architecturally, each came at the subject from a vastly different place, yet, perhaps surprisingly, they arrived at similar conclusions.
But for both, the museum as a sacred temple of culture that elevates visitors is no longer a tenable proposition. Three main issues inform her work: social impact, new urban typologies, and intersectional sustainability, which is as much about stewarding the environment as it is about sustaining culture and livelihoods.
Known for their skill in engaging with existing buildings, Caruso St. John always put people, context, and program at the heart of their approach. Mariam Issoufou: It was almost a sideways approach.
But, in practice the subject preoccupies me a lot. This is kind of odd. Showcasing art has existed for a really long time in many parts of the world. The museum as we understand it today, with its collections and accumulations from all over the globe, was born of an age of empire and plunder. This immediately makes it irrelevant outside of the imperial context. They complain that nobody visits them, that they stay empty, gathering dust, not cared for.
Well, the reality is that very few people in those countries are interested in going to museums. Adam Caruso: Even in the West, the concept of the museum can be just as problematic. I was taken to museums from an early age, and I did the same with my son, for whom they represent a kind of safe space. Most of our museum clients are fortunately engaged with this situation.
