CURRENT APPROACHES AND NEW RESEARCH IN
MODERN SCIENCES
International scientific-online conference
120
ISSUES OF MUSEUMIFICATION OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL
HERITAGE OBJECTS
Hаmidova Dilfuzа Ulugbek qizi
Independent researcher of National Institute of Fine Art
and Design named after Kamoliddin Bekzod
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14282683
Abstract:
This article studies samples of the intangible cultural heritage of
Uzbekistan and the problems of their preservation for the future generation.
Regulatory documents on the protection of intangible cultural heritage were
also analyzed and issues of their promotion with the help of museums were
considered. The causes of these problems have also been investigated.
Keywords:
Uzbekistan, UNESCO, representative list, intangible cultural
heritage, law, declaration, factor, national value, tradition, museum, program.
Museumification is a direction of museum activity that involves
transforming heritage into objects of museum display. The museumification of
intangible heritage assumes its consolidation into tangible carriers and its
further implementation. The actualization of an intangible object is carried out
within the framework of exhibitions and cultural-educational events.
There are various methods of museumification of intangible heritage
objects, including conservation, actualization, and museumification:
1. Conservation: This involves preserving an intangible heritage object by
removing it from its existing environment and storing it within museum
collections using tangible means. In such cases, intangible objects are recorded
through video or audio recordings, ethnographic descriptions, and are included
in museum archives or documentary funds.
2. Actualization: This method entails integrating the museum object into a
contemporary environment or museum space. Actualization is particularly
important in the museumification of intangible heritage, as traditions need to be
continuously repeated to remain relevant.
3. Museumification: This approach allows the preservation and
development of an intangible heritage object in its active state. This involves
preserving a tradition in a museum space in a way that mirrors its natural
historical and cultural environment, while incorporating adaptive mechanisms.
In the 20th century, with the acceleration of globalization processes across
all fields, many forms of intangible culture faced the threat of being forgotten
and lost. Consequently, the identification and preservation of intangible
(spiritual) heritage as an integral part of global cultural heritage have become
CURRENT APPROACHES AND NEW RESEARCH IN
MODERN SCIENCES
International scientific-online conference
121
pressing issues for modern scientific communities.
At the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, the problem of preserving
intangible heritage objects came to the forefront due to the risk of losing many
cultural forms vital to human self-identification. The museumification of
intangible cultural heritage is becoming increasingly important, requiring in-
depth development of preservation and presentation strategies. According to E.
N. Mastenitsa, the integration of intangible heritage issues into the theoretical
and practical interests of museum hermeneutics not only influences the methods
of museum work and the development of exhibition and interpretation practices
but also contributes to the emergence of new types of museums, such as eco-
museums and living museums.
Intangible cultural heritage refers to traditions, expressions, knowledge,
and skills—along with related instruments, objects, artifacts, and cultural
spaces—that communities, groups, and individuals recognize as part of their
cultural heritage. Its essence lies in its transmission and acceptance by living
people, often referred to as “living heritage” in academic discourse.
The initial stage of forming a system for preserving intangible heritage can
be traced back to 1973, when the Bolivian government requested UNESCO to
develop model proposals for the regulation, development, and dissemination of
folklore. The term “intangible heritage” emerged in the late 20th century in
modern humanities, leading to an expansion of museum boundaries and a shift
in the scientific paradigm of museology.
Ivo Maroević broadened the interpretation of "heritage," emphasizing the
transition in the concept of heritage in museology. According to him, the
European model of museum institutions, which began during the Renaissance
and culminated in the 1980s, was primarily focused on collecting, preserving,
and exhibiting material world values. However, he argued that intangible
heritage extends beyond the scope of museological theory. He also highlighted
the role of museums and museologists in preserving and displaying intangible
heritage as a part of social identity.
In 2003, UNESCO adopted the "Convention for the Safeguarding of
Intangible Cultural Heritage," which includes customs, performances,
expressions, knowledge, and skills, along with associated objects and cultural
spaces. Today, UNESCO implements measures to protect intangible heritage,
including developing the "Declaration of Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible
Heritage of Humanity." According to this declaration, intangible heritage is
defined as:
CURRENT APPROACHES AND NEW RESEARCH IN
MODERN SCIENCES
International scientific-online conference
122
-
A collection of traditional creative expressions reflecting a community's
social and cultural identity.
-
Standards and values passed down orally or through other
means.
In Uzbekistan, the 2003 UNESCO "Convention for the Safeguarding of
Intangible Cultural Heritage" was ratified in 2008. Between 1993 and 2020,
Uzbekistan nominated five tangible cultural heritage objects and eight intangible
cultural heritage items to the UNESCO World Heritage List, with plans to
nominate over ten tangible and five intangible cultural heritage objects by 2030.
The following forms of intangible cultural heritage are preserved in
Uzbekistan:
Oral traditions and expressions, including language as a carrier of
intangible cultural heritage.
Performing arts, including acting, musical performance, singing, and
dancing.
Customs, rituals, and festive events.
Knowledge and practices related to nature and the universe.
Traditional craftsmanship and associated knowledge and skills.
Since independence, Uzbekistan has adopted special laws and developed
state programs to preserve cultural heritage. These regulatory documents create
a foundation for safeguarding the cultural heritage of the Uzbek people and
passing it on to future generations. State programs also emphasize the
development of international cooperation in preserving cultural heritage
【
6
】
.
The concept of intangible heritage encompasses the social mechanism of
transmitting traditions. Museums play a vital role in preserving intangible
heritage. When it is impossible to preserve intangible heritage objects in their
natural socio-cultural environment, they can be museumified. Museum
professionals have drawn attention to issues surrounding intangible heritage,
defining and classifying it, and establishing methods for working with it in
museums.
According to I.A. Chuklinova, French scholars A. Devallée, B. Deloche, J.
Davallon, and F. Méro were among the first to focus on identifying and studying
elements of intangible heritage that could be museumified, adhering to
advanced views on the natural and cultural environment of humanity
【
7
】
.
Understanding intangible heritage is primarily linked to issues of
preserving and interpreting tangible cultural heritage. Before analyzing the
place of intangible heritage objects in museum work, they must be identified as
CURRENT APPROACHES AND NEW RESEARCH IN
MODERN SCIENCES
International scientific-online conference
123
museum items. Clearly, envisioning the ideal representation of an object in a
museum is challenging. To avoid such problems, it is essential to preserve the
object in its traditional form.
When asked, “What happens to intangible heritage objects when they
become museum items?” the answer lies in the fact that such objects cannot
simply be displayed, restored, or exhibited as tangible items. In the
museumification method, the process and conditions of the object's emergence
are museumified rather than the object itself.
Like tangible heritage objects, intangible cultural heritage objects
contribute to increasing the number of tourists visiting a country. This is
because cultural and social characteristics significantly influence the
attractiveness of a tourist destination for various groups and categories of
visitors. Many tourists are interested in a nation’s culture, art, science, religion,
and history. The musical potential of a region is one of the most captivating
elements of its culture. In some countries, music serves as the main factor
attracting tourists. Renowned music festivals bring together thousands of
participants annually
【
8
】
.
One of Uzbekistan's traditional events is the Sharq Taronalari International
Music Festival, which plays a significant role in promoting classical music and
national melodies.
Uzbekistan’s updated national list of intangible cultural heritage includes
over 60 nominations across five categories. Additionally, objects such as Kobiz
Performance have been listed under UNESCO’s Urgent Safeguarding List of
Intangible Cultural Heritage. Five other elements, including Bakhshi Art,
Ethnosport, Woodcarving Art, Halfachilik, and Uzbek Martial Arts, have been
added to UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of
Humanity. Furthermore, the Rishton Ceramics School has been recommended
for UNESCO’s Register of Best Practices in Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Today, museum professionals pay significant attention to intangible
heritage objects. One of their primary tasks is to analyze and preserve certain
cultural treasures that are at risk of extinction and trace their deep roots.
According to generalized data, the representation and status of intangible
heritage objects in museums depend on their domestic character and
preservation level. In some cases, representatives of traditions themselves can
become “museum objects.”
Indeed, the classification of intangible heritage objects within museums is
based on the method used during their museumification. Classifying objects by
CURRENT APPROACHES AND NEW RESEARCH IN
MODERN SCIENCES
International scientific-online conference
124
their type is another fundamental principle of this system.
In conclusion, intangible cultural heritage objects encompass a wide range, from
everyday life to traditional culture and art, including their history and context.
Efforts to immortalize intangible heritage are being actively carried out by
experts and museum professionals. In addition to preserving and displaying
historical and cultural items, museums also safeguard and disseminate socially
significant information through such objects. UNESCO’s International
Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, adopted in Paris
in 2003, serves as both the outcome of intensive scholarly discussions and a
guide for action.
References:
1. Мастеница Е. Н. Нематериальное наследие как объект музеефикации:
теоретико-методологические основания. Санкт-Петербург, Россия. с
elenamast@yandex.ru.
2. Мартыненко И.Э. Правовая охрана нематериального культурного
наследия государств – участников СНГ на международном и национальном
уровнях. // Международное и европейское право.– М.: 2017. №2. – С. 282.
3. Курьянова Т.С. Нематериальное наследие: этапы становления термина и
явление. // Вестник Томского гос. ун-та. 2012. № 362. – С. 87.
4 Maroević I. Museology and the Intangible Heritage together against the
Traditional Museum or Are We Returning to the Original Museum? // ICOFOM
Study Series. 2000. No. 32. Pp. 84–89.
5.https://yuz.uz/news/lazgi-shashmaqom-askiya-va-palov-yunesko-royxatiga-
tavsiya-etildi. 9 фев 2022.
6. Номоддий маданий мерослар бўйича меъёрий ҳужжатлар (тўплам). –
Тошкент, 2013. – Б. 4-5.
7. Куклинова И. А. Понятие «наследие» в системе научных взглядов
представителей
«новой
музеологии»
//
Вестник
Томского
государственного университета. Культурология и искусствоведение. 2014.
№ 1. – С. 71-75.
8. Квартальнов В. А. Туризм. – Москва: Финансы и статистика, 2006. – С. 109
