Lack of Curatorial Direction at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
The current exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Macam) in Tunis, titled "Illuminations contemporaines," suffers from a glaring lack of curatorial direction. No curator is mentioned, and the exhibition resembles a showcase rather than a thoughtful and meaningful project. A temporary exhibition should be built around a strong concept, capable of transforming the presentation into an event or even a cultural phenomenon.
Poor Signage and Navigation at the Cité de la Culture
The Cité de la Culture, where the museum is located, lacks clear signage and a plan, making it difficult for visitors to navigate the premises. The few existing plans are relegated to remote corridors, rendering them almost useless. This is particularly problematic for the Macam, as visitors, whether Tunisian or foreign, would struggle to find the museum's location.
The Permanent Exhibition: "Mémoire de générations 1894-2004"
The permanent exhibition, situated on the ground floor, is titled "Mémoire de générations 1894-2004" and showcases different artistic approaches through three main ensembles: pioneers, the Tunis School and its contemporaries, and a selection of more recent works reflecting the emergence of new generations and the advent of contemporary Tunisian art. Unfortunately, all the works lack temporal precision, with no signature dates provided.
The Temporary Exhibition: "Illuminations contemporaines"
The temporary exhibition, which should attract a large audience, create a significant event, and promote culture, requires rigorous planning, in-depth research, and a well-studied scenography. However, this exhibition risks going unnoticed, not only by the general public but also by art enthusiasts, due to insufficient communication. The promotional poster, barely visible outside of the museum's Facebook page, only mentions the title and date of the exhibition, without any additional enticing content.
Tribute to Abdelhamid El Hajem
The exhibition is situated on the third floor of the museum and begins with a tribute to the artist Abdelhamid El Hajem, who passed away in March 2025. The tribute features a video montage accompanied by the sound of a qanun, but the music is more akin to elevator music and does not match the spirit of the exhibition or the location. It would have been more meaningful to include El Hajem's own voice, through an individual audio device, rather than the generic music.
The Exhibition's Shortcomings
The exhibition gathers 54 works from the National Fund of Plastic Arts, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, signed by artists with diverse universes, including Houda Rjab, Nizar Megdich, and Faten Chouba, among others. While the presentation provides a glimpse into the richness of the National Fund, it suffers from a glaring lack of curatorial direction. No curator is mentioned, and the ensemble resembles a showcase rather than a thoughtful and meaningful project.
The Importance of Curatorial Direction and Cultural Mediation
Showing the works of our artists is essential, but it is equally important to showcase them in a meaningful way: citing them in communication, presenting their approaches through short biographies, and providing visitors with a genuine curatorial text accompanied by explanatory brochures. Cultural mediation must also be reinforced to make the collection accessible to the widest audience possible. After all, is this not one of the primary missions of a museum?
