Is the
digitization of works of art in museums a curse?
Or might the digitization be a blessing?
by Earl of Cruise
by Earl of Cruise
French Liner
NORMANDIE backing out of her New York pier during a night sailing in 1935.
Oil on canvas 15"x22" courtesy of William G. Müller, marine artist
Oil on canvas 15"x22" courtesy of William G. Müller, marine artist
We here in Germany, we are not really in love with the
modern technologies as in other countries. This when it comes to controlling - George
Orwell `1884 - Big Brother is watching You´, spy cams and unasked photographies,
etc. But otherwise we are as free as everybody else, the most, who share on
social media their daily life. A bit crazy ... As we encountered some years ago,
with the internet giant who send obscure cars through our streets for
photographing each, all and everything, we went on barrikades and cried that
our privacy has to be protected.
But otherwise the very same internet giant is used for
daily searches in the web. That is used so often, some people don´t search
their pens, they "google" them ...
This search mashine is working with algorythms which
give us not an impartial, unprejudiced, uncolored or non-partisan result. The
result we see is partial! It is depending on our own "rythm" how and
what we search. We are producing the algorythms after which the search mashine
is giving us the results. You may name it somehow a `self-fullfilling prophecy´
...
But if this company is going to make its own
censorship, for whatever reason, then we have a real problem. That of pressing a
private opinion on everybody. Blacked out nipples for example to prevent a
"Nipple Gate". An intrusion on art, based on hypocrisy -
nothing less.
This company is scanning art, books, etc. and posting
it in the web. For a research wunderful help, but one has to be critical with
the findings. And not all is true, or you can rely on.
But why digitization for the
museums?
Is the
digitization of works of art, documents, etc. of museums a curse, or a coffin
nail even?
Or might the digitization be a blessing?
The answer is two-edged. It might prevent, the most fear/ed, visiting a
museum. But on the other hand it can make someone hungry for la
véritable œuvre d'art.
A digitization
of art opens it for those who cannot walk every time when they wish into the
museum. It brings too those closer to art who are "afar" from it. It
is easy to access. And it would be possible to recreate objects, that cannot be
rebuild in reality. We see the success of digital animated documentaries
where antique, medieaval or 19th century surroundings are recreated.
We can dive
in into scenes of olden times. We can look even closer to a painting than
allowed in a museum - imagine a spectator holding his nose close to Mona Lisa
...
Looking at art is a kind of education. It is
widening our horizon, as travelling ... assuming you are not narrow-minded.
And art is a
possession of us all. It is what we humans are. It is our expression or
mindset. If we like it or distate.
And what
about the great liners? We have only two left. One dramatically necklegted in
Long Beach - the QUEEN MARY. And another in Rotterdam the ROTTERDAM.
The ROTTERDAM
has got a makeover prior to her new role. The costs would have enabled to build
a new vessel. ROTTERDAM has got too a fresh and future oriented program. While
the QUEEN MARY, owned by Long Beach, is squeezed for profits, with the 6th or
8th lease partner ... and again and adian only a focus on the running of the
hotel operation.
What about
but with those icons we have lost via scrapping, or being sunk or being
destroyed by incompetence, carelessness and ignorance?
There is one
liner, despite the TITANIC, that deserves a rebuilding in 3D - le NORMANDIE!
She was and
is the epitome of Art Deco, interior and exterior! She has brought the real
glitz and luster to the ocean. Her wasteful use of space makes her a desire to
be on, even today. She was not only glitz in Première Classe, but too in the
Deuxieme and Troisieme Classe. NORMANDIE´s dining rooms for these passengers
had been more fashionable and stylish than the most First Class "dining
venues" ... or "eateries"?
What if there
would be for the affiocionados a possibility to walk around the decks of NORMANDIE,
or through the rooms?
The film and
games industry is creating superrealistic sceneries, even the
"actors" in games getting the more realistic ... So why not
recreating the bygone grandeur of NORMANDIE to see it, getting a glimpse of
experience of? Seeing all the art again together, thrown today across the
world, in museums and with private collectors. Or recently removed from the
restaurant of CELEBRITY SUMMIT, to get more revenue out of that space. Not only
these Jean Dunand panels have been removed, but their location is unknown, as
the owner of CELEBRITY, ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINES give no statement.
It is "Kulturgut",
artwork that belongs us all - not in the meaning of communism. The owners of
art have a resposibility for their possession. They are the caretaker, or should be. They will take care and do the
best to preserve - hopefully.
It is
interesting that a US American afficionado of NORMANDIE was asking for the Jean Dunand panels from CLEBRITY SUMMIT, and got
no answer ...
Such
corporations have a responsibilty too ... not only shareholder value.
Jean
Dunands had been cut to seize for fitting into a room with a cieling too low. courtesy
CELEBRITY
The question
has widely been discussed in the social media.
One of the
participiant opted for collecting all the NORMANDIE artefacts in the USA. That
would mean in a museum which is only private financed. What if this museum, or
the donator is going into bancrupsy? The artefacts, not only those of NORMANDIE
are in peril again. Such have we seen when the Southstreet Seaport Museum in
New York was in bancrupcy.
I love the
European way of museums financed by the community. Even if we have to pay an entrance
fee, we luckily do, as we know the art is secured in the museum, and in the
whim of someone with only investment intersts.
The reason
for the above mentioned participiant in the discussion was rather obscure - as
the NORMANDIE was destned to sail to New York, all of NORMANDIE artefacts
belong to that city. If these artefacts to anybody, then to the state France!
It was France who build her in the beginning of the 30s. It was a national
effort to build her. In NORMANDIE was all what France stood for in those days. NORMANDIE
was "France". NORMANDIE was the best ambassador for and of France
ever.
As all of the
NORMANDIE artefacts are spread over the world it would be only logic to create
a digital NORMANDIE for all to see and experience.
The NORMANDIE
is France. It is the art of France. But is too the art which is belonging to
all of mankind.
Digitalisierung der Museen
Anybody is free for a comment here. I would like to read them. Also your suggestions.
And if you are really interested in the 3D Virtual Reality version of NORMANDIE please send me your contact info to - gerd.wuesthoff@gmail.com
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