Heritage in Resistance. From Timbuktu to Odesa

The exhibition ‘Heritage in Resistance. From Timbuktu to Odesa’, presented at the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine, highlights the intensification of attacks on cultural heritage around the world, from dynamiting and looting to the abandonment of territories. The exhibition draws on iconic examples such as the destruction of the mausoleums of Timbuktu in 2012, recognised as a war crime by the International Criminal Court. Through maps, models, photographs, videos and digital replicas, you will discover the extent of these contemporary acts of destruction and their consequences.

Acts of resistance in action

In the face of this destruction, the exhibition reveals a vast network of people – local residents, NGOs, researchers and architects – who strive every day to document, protect and preserve this heritage at risk. Every action, even everyday ones, becomes an act of resistance, whether it involves preserving a memory, bearing witness or safeguarding a threatened site. This sensitive and committed human dimension is at the heart of an exhibition designed as a major reportage bringing together the voices of numerous contributors.

Repairing to think about the future

The exhibition also explores the notion of repair, which goes far beyond simple material reconstruction. It is about re-establishing links, restoring meaning to a territory, and rehabilitating cultural know-how and identities. The exhibition shows how international efforts enable reconstruction from the ruins, drawing on the memory and skills of local communities, as was the case in Mali with the restoration of destroyed sites. This is an essential reflection for understanding how heritage can become a lever for the future.

Emotions run high in Paris Region’s exhibitions.