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Devastating Fire at the Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro

 

Yesterday, a huge fire broke out at the Museu Nacional in Rio de Janeiro. Those of you who participated in the ICOM-UMAC 2013 in Rio may remember the Museum’s beautiful building, situated in the middle of a city park.

The Museu Nacional is a university museum, part of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. It is the oldest museum in Brazil, created in 1818. It hosts one of the largest scientific collections in the world, comprising c. 20 million specimens and artefacts of natural history, anthropology, archaeology, as well as historical archives and libraries.

At this point, the full extent of the destruction remains unknown and so does the cause of the fire. Fortunately, there were no victims. UMAC hopes at least part of the collections have been saved.

There is certainly a need for a full investigation, debate and answers, but for now, this is already one of the largest catastrophes in museum history anywhere in the world. It is most important to recognize the significance of this enormous tragedy and irreplaceable loss for science, education and culture, in Brazil and the world, and to demonstrate solidarity and support to our colleagues at the Museu Nacional.

Presently, UMAC is exploring possibilities of expressing our support in more tangible ways. Meanwhile, we are compiling all supporting messages arriving from all over the world. In due time, we will forward them to the Director of Museu Nacional and to the administration of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

Marta C. Lourenço, University of Lisbon

UMAC-ICOM President

Lisbon 3 September 2018

See also ICOM Statement (3 September 2018) on this tragedy.

 

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UMAC will meet in Dresden in 2021 — with Universeum!

The UMAC Annual General Meeting approved the proposal by the Technical University Dresden (TU Dresden), in Germany, to host UMAC 2021. Kirsten Vincenz, UMAC member from TU Dresden, was in Miami to make the proposal, which was unanimously approved.

Photo: Creative Commons.

More importantly, UMAC will meet with the European University Heritage Network, Universeum.

The fantastic collections of TU Dresden can be explored in the UMAC World Database of University Museums and Collections — search them here.

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Our Annual Conference in Miami, US, was an extraordinary success!

Largely due to the partnership with, and commitment of the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries, US, our latest annual conference at the University of Miami mobilised almost 400 participants from 23 countries. 

One of the UMAC-AAMG 2018 sessions, at the University of Miami, 21-24 June 2018.

UMAC is grateful to the AAMG and we hope to continue developing activities together in the near future!

Read more.

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ICOM June Meetings — LIVE FROM PARIS FOR THE FIRST TIME

FOR ALL MEMBERS: JOIN THE ANNUAL MEETINGS ON FACEBOOK LIVE

 

The 2018 ICOM Annual Meetings in Paris, France, are just around the corner. As ICOM keeps expanding its membership across the world, finding new ways of connecting with our members has become our number one priority. For the first time, the Annual Meetings will be available through Facebook Live, making them accessible to the largest number of our members. Three sessions will be retransmitted on real time: the keynote speech, delivered by artist Fred Wilson, the General Assembly, and the vote on the city that will host the 2022 ICOM General Conference. We will also encourage participation through our other social media platforms, Twitter and Instagram, via the hashtag #JuneMeetings.

Read more here.

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METABOLIC MACHINES at University of Copenhagen

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Works by Thomas Feuerstein at Medical Museion

On May 22, Medical Museion opened the exhibition Metabolic Machines, which features works by the Austrian artist Thomas Feuerstein. It is centered on two of his living sculptural machines, in which microscopic life carries out processes of transformation. The machines are literally metabolisms: living systems in which the biochemical breakdown and remaking of matter takes place. The machines also provide the raw materials for the artist’s work, in which matter transforms into art: sugar becomes sculptures and algae become paintings.

Feuerstein explores the transformative processes of life through biological sculptures, paintings, and drawings. He creates artistic narratives, revolving around mythological themes, visions of possible futures, and the complicated relationships between our bodies and technology.

The exhibition is part of Medical Museion’s work with experimental approaches to science communication as part of The Novo Nordisk Foundation for Basic Metabolic Research at the University of Copenhagen.