Our project, Heritage in Motion, traces the origins and acquisition histories in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Asian Art collection. Artifacts in museums have been taken out of their cultural and historical contexts. Our map aims to make the cultural histories of artifacts accessible, promote transparency, and encourage conversations about repatriation.

The map will visualize the displacement of cultural objects due to colonialism and encourage discussion about ethical museum practices. In the initial phase, we will study 50 artifacts from the collection. The map will allow users to explore these histories through clickable markers that provide detailed acquisition histories, cultural contexts, and timelines. Users will be able to explore artifacts by geographic region, historical period, and artifact type. By combining these histories with interactive maps, we hope to create a tool that’s educational and engaging. 

Some challenges we might face are the accuracy of our data, maintaining cultural sensitivity, and technological limitations. We will ensure accuracy by using data from reliable sources, such as the MET database, and data cleaning. We will also collaborate with curators, historians, and cultural representatives to present artifacts respectfully and accurately. We will also perform quality assurance testing, collaborate with web developers, and follow accessibility standards. 

By sharing these histories in an engaging and interactive way, we hope to promote reflection on past colonial histories and encourage more ethical museum practices.  

@radhikakashyap @rabana