First the collection, then the museum
I find the arguments of those who are agitating for a museum of modern art to be built by Renzo Piano on the old opera house site in Valletta to be quite fascinating. If ever there was a case of putting the cart before the horse, this one is it.
Practically every museum that I can think of was built to house an extant collection. The collection came first; the building in which to display it to the public came later. Some of the best and most interesting museums were actually built or adapted from existing buildings to house the private collections of wealthy benefactors who donated them to foundations, trusts or the state.
Yet now we have to listen to people crying out for a ‘museum of modern art’, which is apparently Malta’s most pressing architectural priority, greater even than the need for this country to have its first-ever parliament building. And I ask myself: do these people understand that a museum is not the building itself, but the collection which that building houses? I am mystified as to which state collection of modern art is in such urgent need of an expensive home designed by Renzo Piano that parliament must be shoved aside in its favour. Even if there were no need to build a parliament house, there would still be no call for a museum of modern art, because Malta has no important collection that demands specific showcasing, and I don’t see any private benefactors on the horizon either, ready to drop in with some Henry Moore and Andy Warhol, with a couple of Picassos for good measure. Or are the pro-museum of modern art people thinking only in terms of a building in which to hang the work of Maltese artists, of which there are precious few who merit the accolade, amid the avalanche of hapless, hopeless crap by the untrained, the untalented and the unimaginative? I don’t think that I’ve ever been to a museum of modern art anywhere that showcases only the works of art of those who live in that country. In every one I have visited, the core collection is made up of internationally-important pieces which usually turn out to be the main reason the museum was set up in the first place – to showcase them. They are also the reason people visit the museum. They wouldn’t bother otherwise.
Tomorrow I’m going to spend some time at the Art Gallery of Ontario, the fifth largest museum in the whole of North America. A huge amount of money has been spent recently on a new building to house it, but guess what? They had the collections already. They didn’t come up with a terrific building and then sit about wondering what to put in it. I’ll also stop by at the Royal Ontario Museum (natural history this time, not art), which is housed in a controversial piece of architecture that grows out of an old building. There was a lot of fuss about it when it was planned – but there too, the collections came first and the building came later.
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How very true! Some people get their priorities all wrong.
Bon voyage…and enjoy!
Does it really matter that much if we don’t have a worthwhile collection? Surely the building itself will be enough to symbolise the importance that the Maltese people give to the arts – just like a new parliament building would symbolise our dedication to democracy and all our churches doubtlessly symbolise what an overwhelmingly holy nation we are…
Joking apart, the National Gallery of Ireland, I believe, didn’t have a collection to start with and extra money had to be spent while it was being built in order to acquire some pieces. It was only a few years after it was constructed that private collectors were motivated into donating the bulk of its early collection. Over a century later, the collection is still no Louvre but quite impressive nonetheless.
Incidentally, when Ireland finally acquired its Independence, the palace right next door to the museum became the seat of parliament and it doesn’t seem like they plan on building a new one in the near future.
Having said that, I don’t think that a museum is the way to go at this present time. The collection itself would require continuous investment from the government and frankly I don’t see that happening.
[Daphne – No Irish jokes, please. But seriously, haven’t you ever noticed the many similarities between Irish thinking and Maltese thinking?]
Daphne,
Enjoy your trip. You will be amazed at the contents of AGO and the ROM, in my opinion, much more than the buildings. ( If you get a chance, check out the Science centre too.) Wrap up warm, though. Wouldn’t want my favouite opinion maker and s**t disturber getting lost in a snow drift. If you’re staying for a Canadian Xmas, be prepared for a blast. BTW, Merry Christmas to you and yours.
[Daphne – Thanks and to you, too. I’ll be back just before Christmas, as the family’s in Malta. So far we’ve been lucky with the weather: it’s hovered just below nought Celsius.]
I can’t understand the reasoning that in a time of a soon to come recession, Government should not go on a spending spree. It is in time of recession that governments should undertake infrastructural projects to inject economic activity in the country – so now more than ever is the right time (as long as the government debt and deficit remain within the Maastricht criteria). I am sure that there are thousands of Maltese who are delighted that this project will come about and who are proud that Valletta’s eyesores will be replaced by gems from a world class architect – what of allowing them to give a donation for this project if funding does become an issue? A number of Maltese living abroad would gladly pitch in. Judging Piano’s recent works it is likely that he will incorporate an environmentally conscious aspect in his design – it will not only therefore be the work of a world famous architect, but one which will be influenced by the ‘green revolution’ times in which it will be built. Maybe it is a little blessing that we shelved the first designs. He must be really charmed by Valletta once he didn’t turn down our second request so many years after we rejected his first plans. A new library with decent reading rooms could also be incorporated in the Valletta project – we desperately need this too.