Etnolog 16 (2006) SLOVENSKI ETNOGRAFSKI MUZEJ MED TRADICIJO IN SODOBNOSTJO Inga Miklav~i~ - Brezigar 239 Mnenja o Slovenskem etnografskem muzeju, njegovi stavbi, zbirkah in na novo postavljeni stalni zbirki so do neke mere deljena – velika ve~ina obiskovalcev in opazovalcev dogajanja v osrednji stavbi predmetne dedi{~ine slovenske ljudske kulture je navdu{ena, seveda pa naletimo tudi na mnenja, da je hi{a predimenzionirana v dobesednem in prenesenem smislu, da je “vre~a brez dna”, da pravzaprav ne prina{a ni~ novega. Prav ta zadnja opazka v zvezi s stalno razstavo “Med naravo in kulturo”, ki sem jo sli{ala od sodelavca muzealca, spodbuja razmi{ljanje o Slovenskem etnografskem muzeju med tradicijo in sodobnostjo – ne le v vsebinskem ali strokovnem smislu, temve~ tudi z vidika muzeologije in novih muzeolo{kih spoznanj. Mogo~e stavba in nova postavitev stalne zbirke na prvi pogled res ne prina{ata kak{nih senzacionalnih novosti – predmeti so postavljeni na tradicionalen, do neke mere celo suhoparen depojski na~in, vendar po vseh pravilih muzejske stroke – v prahotesnih vitrinah z lastno osvetlitvijo, s prilagojeno klimo, kar omogo~a kar najbolj{e pogoje hranjenja etnolo{kih predmetov, posebej tistih iz organskih materialov. Tudi najenostavnej{i ali vsakdanji predmeti so postavljeni kot dragocenosti, kar predmeti, v smislu nacionalne dedi{~ine, starosti, redkosti ali z vidika umetni{ke vrednosti, tudi so. In tako Slovenski etnografski muzej res predstavlja “tezaver” – zakladnico iz dedi{~ine vsakdana in praznika slovenskega naroda ter narodov in ljudstev Evrope in sveta, kot je zapisano na spletni strani muzeja. Sodobna tehnologija, ki osvetljuje predmete in njihov “na~in `ivljenja” ali uporabe, je prav tako postavljena na strogo tradicionalen na~in – fotografi je in fi lmi so v enakovredni ali v~asih podrejeni poziciji, ko nevsiljivo pripovedujejo zgodbe o predmetih in ljudeh, le zvok ali glasba se mogo~e v~asih prehitro prelijeta iz ene sekcije v drugo. Predmeti so postavljeni v smiselnem vrstnem redu – in tu je tisto “nekaj ve~”, kar tradicionalno postavitev nadgrajuje. Napisi, naslovi in spremljevalni teksti, avtorsko delo kustosov, ka`ejo na druga~en na~in razmi{ljanja, ki predmete postavlja v soodvisnost s ~lovekom in okoljem. In tako razstava ni ve~ le prikaz “slovenske ljudske kulture”, pa~ pa govori o odnosih – o “predmetih `ivljenja in predmetih po`elenja”, ki pri~ajo o stereotipih, s pomo~jo katerih ljudstvo postaja narod; o predmetih “vode in zemlje”, ki so potrebni za materialno eksistenco; o “potrebnih in nepotrebnih” predmetih, ki nas spremljajo skozi prostor in ~as s potrebo po hrani, Etnolog 16 - 14.indd 239 11/26/06 11:13:20 PM Inga Miklav~i~ - Brezigar obla~enju, bivanju – in `eljo po luksuzu, lepoti, vrednotah, ki jih izra`amo skozi zunanjo podobo osebe, njenega doma in okolja; o predmetih “dru`benega in duhovnega” sveta ljudske kreativnosti v oblikovanju socialnega in duhovnega sveta ter ritualov, potrebnih za obstoj enega in drugega. Tu se stalna zbirka zaklju~i s prehodom v otro{ki svet – in zanimiv, v labirint postavljen Etno-Abeceda` navdu{uje s predmetnimi utrinki od A do @ ter s tem popestri strogo, skoraj religiozno vzdu{je sveti{~a slovenske ljudske kulture. Za zaklju~ek lahko v oddelku “odsev daljnih svetov” res vidimo odsev – odsev svojega sveta v ogledalu tujih kultur. V za~etku nove dobe muzejske stroke na Slovenskem je znani muzeolog Tomislav [ola govoril o muzeju kot o “hi{i idej, ne predmetov” – in hi{a Slovenskega etnografskega muzeja je ve~ kot le hi{a stalne zbirke. Tu se sre~ujejo ljudje in kulture v medsebojnem 240Espo{tovanju. ^e `elimo opredeliti Slovenski etnografski muzej in njegovo stalno zbirko, je potrebno slediti zgoraj zapisani misli – in Slovenski etnografski muzej fascinira z dejavnostjo, odprtostjo, interaktivnostjo, z idejami, ki o`ivljajo stavbo samo. Trenutna stalna zbirka je le ena izmed idej v zbirki mnogih dejavnosti. ^eprav postavljena na tradicionalen na~in, “ostanke” starih ~asov postavlja kot temeljno os zavesti o nujnosti druga~nega poslanstva muzeja, okrog katere se vrtijo ob~asne razstave, otro{ke delavnice in delavnice za odrasle, kulturna dogajanja in prilo`nosti za predstavitve lokalnih kultur, spletne strani in gostovanja v virtualnem in realnem svetu. Tako Slovenski etnografski muzej plete mre`o med tradicijo in sodobnostjo, ki jo lahko zaznamo le z odprtim o~esom in srcem. Etno-Abeceda`, foto: N. @gank, 2006 Etnolog 16 - 14.indd 240 11/26/06 11:13:21 PM Etnolog 16 (2006) THE SLOVENE ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM BETWEEN TRADITION AND MODERNITY Inga Miklav~i~ - Brezigar 241 People’s opinions on the Slovene Ethnographic Museum, its building, collections, and the newly installed permanent exhibition are to some extent diverse: the large majority of visitors and observers of the activities in the central home of the tangible heritage of Slovene folk culture are enthusiastic about them; but there are, of course, other opinions too: that the museum’s building is over-dimensioned in the literal as well as figurative sense, that it is “never-ending investment”, or that it does not bring anything new. I overheard the last remark in connection with the permanent Exhibition Between Nature and Culture from a colleague, and it inspires reflections on the Slovene Ethnographic Museum between tradition and modernity – not only in terms of contents or in the professional sense, but also from the point of view of museology and new museological fi ndings. It may be true that the building and the new installation of the permanent exhibition does not bring any sensational novelties at first sight. The objects are arranged in a traditional, to some extent even dull way, but in line with the rules of the museum discipline, that is in dust-proof showcases with incorporated lighting, a suitable climate providing the best possible conditions for the preservation of ethnological objects, especially those made of organic materials. Even the most simple and ordinary objects are presented as valuables and that is what they are indeed from the point of view of the national heritage, age, rareness, or artistic value. This means that the Slovene Ethnographic Museum indeed presents the “treasures” from the heritage of everyday and festive life of the Slovene nation and nations and peoples from Europe and the world, as is written on the museum’s website. Modern technology lighting the objects and their “way of living” is also installed in a strictly traditional way – the photographs and fi lms are either in equal positions or at times subordinated, as they unobtrusively tell the stories about the objects and people, and only the sounds or music at time flows too fast from one section to the next. The objects are placed in a meaningful order – and this is the aspect that exceeds a traditional installation. The titles and accompanying texts, written by the curators, show different ways of refl ecting, putting the objects in interdependence with man and the environment. This means that the exhibition is no longer a presentation of “Slovene folk culture”, but also addresses Etnolog 16 - 14.indd 241 11/26/06 11:13:25 PM Inga Miklav~i~ - Brezigar relations; about “objects of life, objects of longing”, about the stereotypes which help a people become a nation; about the objects of “water and earth” necessary for man’s material existence; about the “necessary and unnecessary” objects which accompany us through time and space and through our needs for food, clothes, dwellings – and the longing for luxury, beauty, values we like to express through our external appearance, our homes and environment; about the objects of the “social and spiritual” world, folk creativity in shaping the social and spiritual world and rituals required for the existence of both worlds. Here the permanent exhibition ends with a transition to the world of children and an interesting Ethno-ABC arranged as a labyrinth with objects from A to @, enlivening the strict, almost religious ambience of this temple of Slovene folk culture. The present installation concludes with a section entitled Refl ections from 242EFaraway Worlds that indeed provides a reflection – that of our world in the mirror of foreign cultures. At the beginning of the new era of the museum discipline in Slovenia, the well- known museum expert Tomislav [ola wrote about a museum as a “house of ideas, not objects”and the house of the Slovene Ethnographic Museum is more that just the home of the permanent exhibition. Here, people and cultures meet in mutual respect. If we want to define the Slovene Ethnographic Museum and its permanent collection, we have to follow the above mentioned thought; in this sense the museum fascinates with its activities, openness, interactivity, and ideas breathing life into the building. The present permanent exhibition is but an idea from a range of many activities. Though installed traditionally, the “remnants” of the old times are placed as the basic axis of awareness about the necessity of the museum’s other missions, highlighted by occasional exhibitions, children’s workshops and workshops for adults, cultural events and opportunities to present local cultures, website pages, and guest exhibitions in the virtual and real worlds. The Slovene Ethnographic Museum thus weaves a net between tradition and modernity that is visible to the open eye and open heart. BESEDA O AVTORICI ABOUT THE AUTHOR Inga Miklav~i~ - Brezigar, etnologinja, Inga Miklav~i~ - Brezigar is an ethnologist mag. sociologije kulture, je muzejska svetovalka with a master’s degree in the sociology of v Gori{kem muzeju Nova Gorica. culture; she is employed as museum adviser at the Gori{ka Museum in Nova Gorica. Etnolog 16 - 14.indd 242 11/26/06 11:13:26 PM