Paper Short Abstract:

Museums are often viewed as authoritative institutions, presenting their narratives as unquestionable facts. This paper explores how this perception can be utilized to foster critical awareness by intentionally curating exhibitions that challenge dominant historical narratives. Using a Wallace Collection exhibition on Maharaja Ranjit Singh as a case study, I aim to demonstrate how museums can prompt public discussions on colonial histories and inequalities surrounding cultural artifacts, leveraging their authority to open up space for interrogation and dialogue.

Paper Abstract:

Museums have long operated under the implicit rule that their authority as expert institutions renders their exhibitions factual and objective, often minimizing alternative narratives or voices. This paper examines how this unwritten rule, while historically problematic, can be strategically leveraged to foster critical engagement with history and its inequalities. Using the example of an exhibition at the Wallace Collection in London about Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his empire, I argue that by intentionally curating narratives that challenge conventional historical perspectives, museums can utilize their perceived authority to encourage public discourse and awareness. Specifically, the exhibition could highlight the colonial contexts and power imbalances inherent in the collection and display of objects, prompting visitors to question the historical narratives presented. By embracing a more reflexive approach to their curatorial practices, museums in transition can use their voice to empower audiences to interrogate the histories and inequalities surrounding cultural artifacts, thereby creating a more equitable and inclusive platform for shared knowledge.