How to activate an empty museum...

11:54 p.m.

Museo del Prado, Madrid.

02/06/20 - This uncertain present, which has silenced the rituals of pilgrimage to art centers, forces museums to update their future presentations to adapt them to our new normal.

One of the key points to consider is the transportation of artworks from other museums or private collections as loans for exhibitions, since they can spark contamination. A safe and quick solution could be to source on local art and also focus on the many works kept by museums away from the public eye. It's time for creative curatorship involving those un-exhibited pieces.

On the other hand, the (temporary) absence of foreign visitors gives a much needed space to correct errors in circulation protocols since visitors will at first be local. If in the past we were asked to keep distance from the artworks (unless our participation was required to complete the work), today's social distancing must also be considered as we move around. Probably guided visits for large groups will have to be suspended, affecting a ritual that enhances the entire art experience.

The third aspect to consider is the healing power of art. The need to come face to face with an artwork, in spite of the many efforts to enrich the virtual experience, is still missed. Visiting the websites of the galleries or museums is a much necessary aspect in learning but does not replace the actual experience of standing in front of an artwork.

No contemporary theory could predict the effects of a pandemic: what was certain before seems outdated now and no institution can envision a clear horizon.