La dantesca tarea de gestionar el futuro del patrimonio peruano exiliado: infierno, purgatorio y paraíso en el mundo de las antigüedades exiliadas

Abstract

This presentation explores a new strategy in the repatriation policy of exiled Peruvian heritage. Latin American heritage has an important presence in the world's museums, but it is less conspicuous than the heritage of other regions, looted according to cultural origins, colonial ties or economic power. In the early 20th century, scientific research in the Andes preceded the indiscriminate looting that would fill American and world museums with artifacts. In this scenario, the best examples of looted Peruvian heritage were found in foreign museums until 1987. The call for the repatriation of heritage is common from many of the looted countries. Peru is no exception. But such claims are haphazard, circumstantial, erratic and, while legally required, very costly and ultimately, I believe, counterproductive. Unless action is inevitable when, in a rare scenario, a museum showcases Peruvian heritage in an exhibit called "A Stolen World." In this presentation I propose a new strategy to face the immense exiled Peruvian heritage, revaluing repatriation not as a political discourse, and therefore illogical, of heritage policy but in new academic dimensions, of cultural promotion and identity.