Subject: | |
From: | |
Reply To: | |
Date: | Fri, 14 May 2004 09:40:20 +0200 |
Content-Type: | text/plain |
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
Below is the translation of the message from ICOM-Guatemala. This translation was made by J.P.
Jouanny from the Interpol Headquarters.
For your information, I received from ICOM-Guatemala photos and Object ID descriptions of the 3
objects. All information was sent yesterday to Interpol and others institutions. The Museum Security
Network might put them on its web site.
Sincerely,
Valérie Jullien
Communication Officer
ICOM secretariat
_________________________
The Association of Guatemala Museums rejects the facts of violence
that has been bestowed on the Colonial Art Museum.
The Association of Guatemala Museums / Guatemalan Committee of the
International Council of Museums which joins all public and private
Guatemala museums, rejects and laments the attack against the
Cultural Heritage and the loss of Human Life committed at the
Colonial Art Museum in Antigua Guatemala on Sunday 2nd May 2004.
It shows once again the lack of protection of the National Cultural
Heritage held at the Guatemalan Museums while at the same time it
shows the risk of violence at those Cultural Centres. The loss of a
cultural worker, Mr. Jorge Luis Morán Santizo, Security Officer of
the Museum, who died in the line of duty defending the transcendental
values of Guatemala will not be forgotten.
During this deplorable criminal act the following works of art were
stolen from the Colonial Art Museum: "La Virgen al pie de la cruz"
(Virgin at the foot of the Cross) 53cm high x 23 cm large; "El Cristo
de la agonia" 74 cm. high x 30 cm. large (Both Works-Art are carved
in wood and decorated with gold and cloth); one painting on canvas by
Cristobal Villalpando of XVIII Century named "El Sueño del Papa
Gregoriano" (The dream of the Gregorian Pope) 300 cm high x 300 cm
large. This painting was taken away by cutting it from its frame. The
pictures of those works of art have already been put on the Internet.
Neither Cultural Treasure nor loss of Human Life can be replaced.
Criminal impoverished Guatemala, despoiling their Historical-Cultural
goods and at the same time a family in mourning and a cultural
sector threatened by such criminal acts.
We express our disdain for those terrible events and we declare our
sadness to the family of Mr. Jorge Morán and to all persons who gave
their life defending the Heritage. We would like to show our
solidarity with the competent Authorities, especially with the
Colonial Art Museum Director Mrs. Betancourt.
We ask the representatives of the competent institutions to ensure
that the facts do not go unpunished and that an investigation be
opened to identify and arrest the offenders. At the same time, we
request an improvement of the security inside the areas where our
national cultural treasures are held and protected.
Museums are places where culture spreads out and where visitors are
put in contact with reality through the exhibits. Museums are also an
evident support of education. Today, there is a climate of insecurity
and uncertainty in these places because of the poor conditions of the
installations. This fact demonstrates the vulnerability of the
installations.
We also remember the guards of the cultural heritage of the central
regions of Guatemala who have given their lives for the protection of
this heritage and also the workers who, every day, expose their life
to the threats emanating from the looters of the two most important
patrimonial values: the material testimony of the culture of our
ancestors and of the present civilisation.
archive of the list:
<http://msn-list.te.verweg.com/> http://msn-list.te.verweg.com/
_______________________________________________
Join us in Seoul, ICOM General Conference, Oct. 2-8, 2004.
Theme : Museums and Intangible Heritage
http://icom.museum/general-conference2004.html
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the
archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html
|
|
|