Museums are not cemeteries for objects
According to the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA), quoting the public relations of Dafineh Museums, the unveiling ceremony of the Millennia of Art book (works of the Millennia of Art Museum of Kish) was held at this museum, which opened a month ago, with the presence of ICOM Iran directors, Kish Free Zone Organization, and the Foundation Museums Institute.
During the ceremony, Hamidreza Soleimani, CEO of Dafineh Museums Institute, said: “In the world, museums are not cemeteries for objects but places of activity and programs. In the past year, 7 museums were added to the country’s museums, and we launched an academy with ICOM in each museum about experience transfer. I believe all assets in museums can help transfer experience.”
He added: “We implemented the first model of participation in the country with the Kish Free Zone Organization. Now this work has become a model that other cities in the country are also approaching us to implement. We welcomed it. Kish can be the starting point for artistic activities.”
Mohammad Hossein Pourtaghi, CEO of the Recreational Centers of the Mostazafan Foundation, stated in this program: “For the first time, museum works and objects in the Foundation have been published as a book. This book can be a source for those doing research.”
“This is a good deed in itself, and I hope it will be repeated. This book is also scheduled to be published for other museums. We need cooperation to create a good event and movement in the country with this expertise, experience, and cooperation.” He believes that if a work turns into a movement, it will last.
Pourtaghi continued: “332 works have been prepared in Kish Museum so that people can spend a few minutes alongside the island’s entertainment, viewing our embodied stories.”
Also, in this program, Ahmad Mohit Tabatabaei, head of ICOM Iran, said: “Kish and the city of Harireh are located on the Silk Road, which is why in this museum we see works from China, India, and other countries that were located on this route.”
He said: “Before the Persians came to this area, there was a historical culture in this region that connected people from Southern and East Africa to Southern Saudi Arabia, West Mumbai, and Makran, a culture called Swahili. We have works from these areas in this museum. Everyone should know their values and differences from other ports. The only place where Sindbad’s stories come true is Kish Island. Today, Kish Island is a seller of fresh water, while it once sold fresh water to other countries.”
He continued: “We know ‘Hezar’ (thousand) in the culture and literary history of this country by the name of Hezardastan (thousand stories/nightingale), a symbol that considers the bird and flower as paradise in the history of art, and this bird is the nightingale, meaning Hezardastan, which signifies the art of these people. This name reminds us of the artistic and ancient part of the land. We are in a place with different tastes; it is better to benefit from what is our own. For example, if we go to Kish, we should see something that belongs to the island itself, not somewhere else. This is something we have forgotten in development. This building, with its architecture and valuable collection, has become one of society’s assets.”
Ali Hasanlou, Deputy Tourism of Kish Free Zone, also stated that he is ready to create such museums on the island. He said in this regard: “The Foundation created a museum with such a standard on the island. This event can be more sustainable and purposeful and turn this museum into a specialized museum center.”
The PDF file of the Millennia of Art Museum works book will soon be uploaded on the website of the Dafineh Museums Institute.
