Lost Haitian Art

[Aitch]

There is an article on the Guardian web site concerning the amount of art lost due to the recent earthquake.

The question is, how high on the hierarchy of needs does art come? Should resources be put to rescuing artworks now, at a cost to other rescues/rebuilding, bearing in mind that some pieces may be irreplacable (due to age) and may not be lost if rescue/restoration work starts now and not at some undefined future date?

If a (Haitian) millionaire wishes to put a lot of money into rescuing art, should he be allowed to? If he puts an equal amount into helping people? Is it even possible or right to tell him (or her) what they can do with the resources they control?

 

[philkensebben]

Of course he should be allowed to do it. It doesnt make it the right thing to do in such circumstances. Though one could mount a case that the safekeeping of culture (art works being an example) is of no less importance than the survival of people. Not sure i would though, its a bit early and i've only had 1 coffee.

Its an interesting question, bit surprised to see no responses.

 

[Aitch]

Perhaps I phrased the OP badly.

Obviously, I feel that people come first when it comes to help/rescue/whatever.

But art is an important part of a culture and lost artworks mean that part of the culture is, to an extent, lost.

Note: I don't consider photographs of artworks to be an acceptable replacement.
Another note: I am also not considering monetary value here.

Of course he should be allowed to do it. It doesnt make it the right thing to do in such circumstances. Though one could mount a case that the safekeeping of culture (art works being an example) is of no less importance than the survival of people.

Perhaps it's a question of balance. Perhaps you just have to bite the bullet and let the art go. Perhaps there is no answer. I don't know, that's why I started the thread.

Not sure i would though, its a bit early and i've only had 1 coffee.

Maybe I've had too much!

Its an interesting question, bit surprised to see no responses.

Me too, I expected some abuse, at least!

 

[geni]

But art is an important part of a culture and lost artworks mean that part of the culture is, to an extent, lost.

If your culture cannot survive the loss of artworks it is unlikely to be robust enough to survive the 21st century.