May 9
Dear Liza,
When two rivers flow together to become one, this is called a confluence. And when a museum is perfectly suited, both architecturally and metaphorically, to its location, this is called Le Musée des Confluences.
This unexpected building has no great facade and almost no right angles, and looks grandly alien against the bright blue sky. The building looks different from every angle, and there is no ‘front’ or ‘back’. It follows no architectural tradition.
The exhibits inside are equally unexpected. The first one we saw was on Dreams, and how societies through time have used and interpreted them. Writings and stories from all over the world were represented in film, art, models, and recordings. Dreams about death, under fascist regimes, and religious visions were included, all considered equally.
There were also a gallery titled “Death… and Then What?” about different societies’ views on whatever life there may be after death. It was fascinating, if a bit dark, but again, handled without the usual Western bias.
There was no “but science NOW knows…” stuck on the end to discredit the other world views.
The galleries, like the building, and like the location, were a confluence, a blending, an acceptance and equal exploration of all views.
This is included in the introduction to the museum, “guests are invited to view the world with curiosity and a sense of wonder.“ This museum sees itself not as a fountain of knowledge or a gatekeeper of information, but a lens through which to look at the world.
I like that.
Love,
Grandma Judy
Dear Liza 