Ahead of the eagerly awaited 2023 BRICS Summit set to commence in Johannesburg, South Africa, a tantalizing preview of the documentary titled History Illuminates the Future: My Museum Story has been unveiled. This collaborative production involving all five BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — is a testament to the collective commitment to spotlighting cultural diversity. The production will soon be available for global audiences, with China Global Television Network (CGTN) taking the lead in its distribution across popular platforms including YouTube.
The documentary promises to escort viewers on a captivating journey through five museums, each representing the cultural heart of its respective nation. Among these museums is Russia’s Konstantin E. Tsiolkovsky State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics, a testament to human endeavors in space culture. Through this lens, the documentary seeks to enlighten viewers about the significant contributions these nations have made to global cultural, scientific, and historical milestones.
South Africa’s segment draws attention to a revolutionary medical feat, the world’s first human heart transplant, using a museum narrative. China, on the other hand, offers a dive into 5,000 years of its cultural heritage. The story unfolds at Hangzhou’s Liangzhu Museum, shedding light on the Neolithic Liangzhu site’s evolution from a historical treasure to a contemporary design inspiration, notably seen in the Hangzhou Asian Games’ torch design.
India’s episode revolves around the City Palace Museum, a beacon of sustainable cultural legacy preservation, while Brazil introduces viewers to the Inhotim Museum. A marvel encompassing a botanical garden, this museum stands as the globe’s premier outdoor art facility, accentuating the themes of environmental sustainability and balance.
Cultural sociologist Chu Xin mentions that while these museums exist in diverse temporal and spatial contexts, they effectively echo the profound cultural foundations unique to each BRICS nation.
Anil Sooklal, an ambassador dedicated to BRICS liaisons, once likened the distinctive yet harmonious cultures of the BRICS nations to the myriad hues of a rainbow, symbolizing unity in diversity.
This is not the first time the BRICS nations have ventured into collaborative media productions. Back in 2019, during the 11th BRICS Summit in Brazil, the documentary Kids and Glory made its debut, celebrating the unifying spirit of sports among the youth of the member nations. The success of such collaborations underscores a promising future for cooperative endeavors in the entertainment sector.
Yet, the BRICS nations’ synergy isn’t limited to entertainment. Back in 2015, an accord promoting cultural collaboration was signed, highlighting areas including sports, media, and even traditional Chinese medicine. This commitment was further solidified in 2022 with an action plan introduced in Beijing, focusing on fields like cultural heritage, theaters, and libraries.
China’s cultural representatives have often emphasized the importance of these endeavors, viewing them as pathways to bridge cultural gaps, transcend differences, and forge lasting bonds. According to Chu Xin, such collaborations emanate from a shared cultural confidence and openness among BRICS countries.
In the midst of these cultural dialogues, Chinese President Xi Jinping is currently on a state visit to South Africa, prepared to grace the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, which will culminate later this week.
READ MORE: