杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

Six years after the inauguration of the new permanent exhibition dedicated to Australia within the Vatican Museum鈥檚 Anima Mundi Section, a significant event took place on Tuesday in the history of the Museums and its mission to build bridges between peoples.

The event in question was the launch of 鈥淎ustralia. The Vatican Museums indigenous collection鈥� catalogue, co-published by the Aboriginal Studies Press and by the Museums Publishing house.

The volume, curated by Katherine Aigner, in English and Italian, is the third in a series of texts on the ethnological collections of the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 Museums.

It begins with the history of the creation of the Collection, which now comprises around 300 pieces whose origins date back to the first donations made to Pius XI by the Aborigines of Australia.

As Craig Ritchie, Deputy Chief Executive of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies鈥� explained to Linda Bordoni, 鈥渞econnection鈥� is the key word of this innovative publication:

Ritchie expressed his satisfaction and appreciation for what he described as a 鈥渏oint effort that highlights the Australian indigenous items the Museum has鈥� and in particular, said it is 鈥渁n exciting opportunity to highlight the very long and very ancient culture of Australia鈥檚 indigenous peoples鈥�.

Of course the 鈥淓thnological Museum鈥� dedicated to the cultural, artistic and spiritual traditions of all peoples is an integral part of the Vatican Museums and the Australian 鈥淎nima Mundi鈥� section represents a component in the complex mosaic of humanity, but Ritchie said 鈥淚t鈥檚 the first time it鈥檚 been put into publication and this makes it available to a much wider audience.

He also recalled the important history behind the Ethnological Museum and its important message to the world.

History of the 鈥楢nima Mundi鈥� Museum

He explained that 杏MAP导航 Pius XI, in the years between the two World Wars, asked for items from various civilizations around the world, where the Church had missions, to be sent to Rome.

鈥淏ecause in the face of rising fascism in Europe, between the 鈥�20s and the 鈥�30s, and particularly with its very racist element and the idea that only Europe had civilization, it was an important thing to do to show that there are civilizations all around the world鈥� he said.

Ritchie remarked on the fact that in Australia, for example, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have been living for 65,000 years 鈥� 鈥渢hat鈥檚 not a short period鈥� 鈥� with deeply sophisticated cultures and values and ideas.

鈥淪o, he said, it鈥檚 important that we find ways to communicate that - then and now鈥�.

An important message today

Ritchie said he believes that it has become ever more urgent to communicate the message 鈥渢hat we all share the one planet, and the idea that all cultures and all people have value is really important鈥�.

He said that it is a mind blowing and life changing experience to visit the collections and really experience the power of the history and the heritage of humanity.

鈥淪omething wonderful happens when you bring people together and they understand the world鈥� he said, and 鈥渢here鈥檚 no more powerful place to do that than in the Vatican in Rome鈥�

Ritchie explained that the new Catalogue lists all the artifacts and art work that are part of the collection. He said they come from three parts of Australia and constitute a varied representation of Australia鈥檚 indigenous people.

鈥淭here were over 300 indigenous nations on the continent at the time the British arrived in 1788鈥� he said.

He described the collection as very diverse and very rich and able to really offer a wide perspective and new appreciation.

 鈥淲e鈥檙e part of the oldest living culture on the face of the earth鈥� he said.

Of central importance in drawing up the catalogue is the intent to highlight diversity in accordance with the philosophy of 鈥渞econnection鈥� that characterizes both the recent history of the Australian territory and the section of the Vatican Museums that houses the ethnological collections.

Ritchie also talks about working with Vatican administration and about how a very ancient tradition and a very innovative outlook managed to find a way to collaborate fruitfully and work together.

Describing it as 鈥渃omplex but rewarding鈥�, Ritchie concludes it has been one of the most positive experiences he has ever been part of!