Patrimoines en résistance: Exhibition on Cultural Heritage Destruction and Repair

The Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine in Paris presents "Patrimoines en résistance," an exhibition examining the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage in armed conflicts and the subsequent acts of resistance and repair. Featuring maps, texts, models, photographs, videos, contemporary artworks, and digital replicas by Iconem, the show spans three sequences. It highlights the 2012 destruction of the UNESCO World Heritage mausoleums in Timbuktu, which the International Criminal Court classified as a war crime for the first time. The exhibition draws on archaeological excavations and the memory of Malian artisans to document reconstruction efforts. From Bamyan to Odessa and Gaza, it underscores the intensification of attacks on cultural and natural heritage in the 21st century, posing questions about loss and future repair. The narrative weaves together perspectives of architects, artists, researchers, field workers, and witnesses.