New Journal Issue! On the Threshold of Conservation, 2024.

Announcing the Special Issue of Troubles dans les collections: On the Threshold of Conservation

We are thrilled to announce the publication of a special issue of Troubles dans les collections titled “On the Threshold of Conservation.” This issue, co-edited by Noémie Etienne and Lotte Arndt, critically explores the field of conservation, placing emphasis on how cultural preservation is intertwined with power dynamics, sovereignty, and social justice. By foregrounding non-Western perspectives, this special issue challenges dominant narratives and highlights alternative approaches that resist colonial and hierarchical structures.

The issue opens with an introduction by Lotte Arndt and Noémie Étienne, “Unruly Agencies, Reclaiming Sovereignty, and Transversal Alliances,” setting the stage for a collection of thought-provoking articles that question and expand our understanding of conservation practices today.

Read the issue here.

Here is an overview of the featured articles:

• Glass Walls and Dark Seas
  Rosanna Raymond, introduced by Ruby Satele Asiata, brings Pacific perspectives to the discussion, reflecting on the spiritual and cultural dimensions of material heritage.

• No State, No NGOs
  Mazen Iwaisi and Jamal Barghouth focus on grassroots conservation efforts in places where institutional or governmental support is absent, highlighting local initiatives to preserve cultural heritage.

• Dessine Juste !
  Emmanuelle Nsunda explores how visual art serves as a tool for reclaiming narrative sovereignty and resisting external control over cultural expression.

• Interventions Autochtones
  John Moses addresses the role of Indigenous interventions in reshaping museum practices and reclaiming Indigenous cultural heritage, challenging traditional narratives of preservation.

• Memory and Hoarding
  Rachel Moore investigates the complexities of conservation in relation to memory and material accumulation, raising questions about the ethics of preservation.

• Decolonizing Conservation: Integrating Indigenous Knowledge into the Sustainable Preservation of Material Culture
  Johanna Ndahekelekwa Nghishiko-Ndjamba advocates for the inclusion of Indigenous knowledge in conservation practices, emphasizing sustainability and cultural sovereignty.

• Une Petite Grande Chose
  Jumana Manna reflects on the profound cultural significance of small objects, examining how conservation engages with identity and cultural production.

• Translucent Trans-Corporeality
  Aram Lee and Lotte Arndt explore “trans-corporeality,” examining how objects and bodies are interconnected in ways that challenge conventional conservation techniques.

• Insect "Enemies" and Chemical Legacies: Reflections on Archival Practice
  Lora Angelova and Elizabeth Haines interrogate the environmental and ethical implications of chemicals used in conservation, emphasizing the need for sustainable archival practices.

• Kept Rather Than Dead
  Margareta von Oswald critiques the political and ethical dimensions of maintaining museum collections, questioning the neutrality of “preservation.”

• Tracing Toxicity
  Flavia Caviezel examines the environmental and human impacts of toxic substances used in conservation, drawing attention to the hidden costs of preservation.

Through these articles, On the Threshold of Conservation pushes the boundaries of traditional conservation practices by addressing urgent questions of colonialism, sustainability, and community involvement. The issue invites readers to reconsider how we engage with material culture and to imagine more inclusive, socially responsible futures for the field of conservation.

We encourage you to explore this special issue and engage with the diverse perspectives and critical discussions that it brings to the forefront.