Corpses, Casts, and Copyrights. Displaying Human Remains

Participants
Maarten Delbeke, ETH Zurich
Noémie Etienne, University of Vienna
Bärbel Küster, University of Zurich
Urte Krass, University of Bern & Collegium Helveticum

In a shifting landscape of museum practices, the restitution of human remains gains momentum. The Geneva Museum of Ethnography only recently returned three mummies to Bolivia, reflecting broader efforts in other countries. Controversy surrounds the display of such remains, prompting debates at institutions like the Pitt Rivers Museum.

The discussion at the Collegium Helveticum explores the historical visibility of human bodies in churches and museums, questioning their status as objects or subjects. It delves into the complexities of displaying extensions of the human body, such as casts and photography, within evolving ethical and
cultural frameworks.