Is the Museum a Battlefield? 2013

Is the museum a battlefield? That was the essential question posed by the German filmmaker Hito Steyerl (b. 1966) in this video essay. First exhibited in Instanbul in 2013, the film has since been shown as an installation in several galleries. The film in shot in a documentary style, yet includes several strikingly artistic scenes. In the video, Steyerl draws comparisons between war zones and museums by following the physical path of a single bullet. The artist traces the history of the bullet from a mass grave in a Turkish city, to a firearms company which funds many major museums. Through exploring relationships of donations and profit, Steyerl reveals the hidden connections between the arms industry and the art world. The educational film epitomises the use of art to transmit important information. Hito Steyerl is especially known for her conceptual moving image pieces, many of which examine serious themes. The filmmaker herself holds a PhD in Philosophy from Vienna University! In this particular installation of ‘Is the Museum a Battlefield?’, the viewer is invited to watch the video in a room constructed from pillows. These pillows are reminiscent of sandbags, acting as a reminder of war and conflict. The artwork is a key example of the move towards transparency in large-scale museums. What do you think? Why is it important for museums to address the sources of their funding? What problems might this pose?