With the first week of 2016 well under way, we decided to start the new year on a high note by asking our project directors to share a personal experience or cherished quote that inspires them in the direction of their ‘monumental’ ambitions. Here’s what they had to say.
Kuanghan Li
China Program Director
The quote that comes to mind is a phrase that Chinese archaeologists like to use, “透物见人” (pronounced: Tou Wu Jian Ren). The literal meaning is “to see the people through the object.” It’s really to remind myself that though we are mainly concerned with the conservation, and hence focus on the historical objects/buildings/sites, the main objective is to better human civilization through our acts. To not get caught up in the means themselves, and forget the end. To always remember the human element beyond the material, without which the heritage would not exist and not need preservation.
Mustafa Gönen
Director of Turkish Heritage Program
Working with the people and working for the people is something that makes me feel very satisfied. And community development is definitely the key element for a durable cultural heritage preservation, which is also our main concern and which is something I will never give up on… There is one belief that I hold close to heart: “When I am gonna be an old person, I think I will still be dealing with community development.” #BeyondMonuments. This!
Eugen Vaida
Project Director and President of Asociatia Monumentum (Romania)
It is amazing how, sometimes, a chaotic system can be stabilized by an unexpected occurrence coming from the outside. The technical and rational language about the usefulness of maintaining traditional buildings has not had any effect – up until now, when the door was opened with a different key. Knowing the pride and skillfulness of the villagers in the field of traditional dance, I offered a moment of virtuosity at one of the local balls, inviting locals to dance to the traditional – and complicated – Daia “învârtita”. In that moment, I realized that I touched a very sensitive place with regards to their sense of place and identity. Their confidence in who they are grew visibly.
Bijan Rouhani
Director of the AMAL Program
There is no time to be depressed or apathetic in a world torn by conflicts, wounded by poverty and injustice, and threatened by disasters. Cultural heritage is in need more than ever because of all the risks that are occurring, and so every day should be turned into a new opportunity to create hope and positivity for those people whose heritage has been impacted and shattered.
Santiago Giraldo
Director of the Latin America Heritage Program
I’d have to say that Goethe pretty much sums up how I feel when I’m out in the field, working at Ciudad Perdida: ‘There are but two roads that lead to an important goal and to the doing of great things: strength and perseverance. Strength is the lot of but a few privileged men; but austere perseverance, harsh and continuous, may be employed by the smallest of us and rarely fails of its purpose, for its silent power grows irresistibly greater with time.’