The new 13th issue of Herito quarterly
titled “Conflicts of Memory” is now available!
Conflicts of memory belong to the key problems of the
present day. It is an area debated by politicians, historians,
sociologists, artists, writers, and museum experts… Protecting
memory and disputing memory are often inseparable from
each other. The latest issue of Herito presents comments on
memory from renowned intellectuals including Robert Traba,
Sharon Macdonald, Stanisław Obirek, Ewa Chojecka, Maciej
Czerwiński, and Agnieszka Zabłocka-Kos.
The Gallery of the International Cultural Centre is currently holding an exhibition titled “Memory.
Registers and Territories,” which depicts the problem of memory from the perspective of
contemporary artworks. While such artists as Mirosław Bałka, Zuzanna Janin, Robert Kuśmirowski,
Robert Maciejuk, Artur Żmijewski , and twenty-three others, use art to speak about memory, the
newest issue of Herito broadens this subject matter and shifts its context. It does so by discussing
20th-century history of Yugoslavia, exhibitions created for new historical museums, post-socialist
nostalgia and the complete opposite of memory – the need to forget.
Conflicts of memory are related to individual memory – mine, yours, her/his… and to collective
memory – ours, yours, theirs… “From the biological point of view, collective memory does not exist.
For each social group, however, defining itself as we, a canon of references to the past is needed to
create their own coherence rooted in the past and directed towards the future” – says Robert Traba,
historian of international renown, specialising in studies on memory. We constantly face the
responsibility to remember; often we are also compelled to forget. There are tools of memory, such
as museums, archives and historical books. Readers have an opportunity to read about them in the
latest issue of Herito – as always, richly illustrated and with elegant layout.
The issue includes:
Robert Traba “The Necessity to Forget, or How To Cope Ars Oblivionis”
The distinguished historian, Director of The Centre for Historical Research in Berlin, writes not only
about remembering, but also about suppressing and forgetting as immanent elements of memory. In
his article he refers to the praxis of the post-WWII years, including legitimisation of the communist
system.
Sharon Macdonald “Europe as a Memoryland”
The British anthropologist, author of the recently published book Memorylands: Heritage and
Identity in Europe Today examines Europe’s “obsession” with memory. She defines it as “the memory
phenomenon”. She writes about European memory schemata, about updating memory and
nostalgia.
Maciej Czerwiński “Former Yugoslavia – a Topography of Collective Memory”
A brilliant description of the history of Yugoslavia from the point of view of all the sides of the
conflict.
Agnieszka Zabłocka-Kos “More Intellect, Less Emotion. In Search of a Balanced Narrative in Historical
Museums in Poland”
Researcher of museums and historian of architecture addresses the topical problem of historical
museums and their ways of building historical narratives, which is the object of incessant political
struggle.
Also not to miss in this issue:
Stanisław Obirek “On Dialogue in the Context of Conflicts of Memory”
Ewa Chojecka “Upper Silesian Conflicts Concerning Historical Memory. New Identities in Statu
Nascendi”
A presentation of paintings by Josep Maria Cabané, a Catalonian artist addressing the tragic events
of the 20th century.
A hitherto unpublished interview with the essayist Leopold Unger: “We Have Constructed Europe.
Now We Need to Construct Europeans”
Herito quarterly is a forum for discussion of the major questions in contemporary culture, heritage
and art. The point of departure for these reflections is Central Europe. The magazine is a valued
participant in international debate on culture. It is a bilingual, Polish-English publication.
Herito is available in quality bookstores and newsagents, as well as in the bookstore of the ICC (Main
Square 25, Krakow and the internet bookstore: www.mck.krakow.pl/bookshop )
Price: 19 zł
An electronic version of Herito for mobile devices is available from Google Play and App Store in two
language versions: Polish and English.
Price: 3,59 EUR
Planned subjects for the next issues of the magazine in 2014:
no 14: Turkey (April)
no 15: summer issue (Nations and stereotypes)
no 16: autumn issue (The Myth of Galicia / the Centenary of the Outbreak of World War I)
no 17: winter issue (McHeritage)