On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a military attack on Ukraine. This war will have significant consequences not just for the country and its inhabitants, but also for Europe and the entire world. Ukraine’s cultural heritage, too, is massively threatened by this war, and unique art treasures are at risk of being lost forever.
The Mannheim “Norman” exhibition is also affected by the Ukraine war. The loan of numerous high-quality and unique exhibits had already been agreed for this exhibition in early 2022. However, after the outbreak of war, the loan agreements for exhibits from Russia were withdrawn or their lending became impossible. This is even more regrettable, as it is an ambition of this exhibition to overcome borders and to uncover and overcome historical myths.
At present, though, we are forced to observe the instrumentalisation of historical events and developments, that have taken place long before any subsequent nation-building, as foundations for modern historical myths. Recourse to an interpretation of the “Kyivan Rus’” as the “germ cell of Russia” is used for the justification of current political decisions, thus presenting yet another example of an instrumentalisation of the past.