A Brazilian conceptual artist, Ilê Sartuzi, has executed a provocative act by swapping a historic British coin for a fake in the British Museum. This act was intended to underscore the large number of foreign objects held by the institution. The idea struck Sartuzi when he observed a museum volunteer handing out coins to visitors for handling. He specifically asked for a silver coin from the English Civil War era, noting it as “one of the few British things in the British Museum.”
Creating a distraction, Sartuzi swapped the original coin for a counterfeit and deposited the genuine coin back into the museum’s collection box on his way out. This incident was first reported by Hyperallergic and recounted in a video Sartuzi made for his master’s degree at Goldsmiths, University of London.
The British Museum responded by stating it would inform the police about the incident, which occurred in June. A museum spokesperson commented, “This is a disappointing and derivative act that abuses a volunteer-led service aimed at giving visitors the opportunity to handle real items and engage with history.”
Sartuzi’s action is part of a broader critique of institutions like the British Museum and the Louvre in France, which he argues consider themselves “holders of the treasures of humanity.” He contends that these institutions are rooted in imperialist cultures that looted many objects from the Global South and other parts of the world. The British Museum has faced increasing scrutiny over its acquisition of certain artifacts, with various countries requesting the return of items such as the Parthenon Sculptures and Nigeria’s bronzes, which were looted by British troops in 1897.
The museum did not directly respond to Sartuzi’s allegations. However, it has been under pressure to reassess its holdings and the manner in which some artifacts were acquired. This controversy follows the museum’s dismissal of an employee a year ago and the subsequent review of its security measures, after discovering that hundreds of items had either been stolen from its collection or were missing.
Sartuzi, who has showcased his work in Brazil, Portugal, and London, consulted with an art lawyer before proceeding with the coin swap. His actions add to the ongoing debate about the rightful ownership of cultural artifacts and the role of major museums in holding and displaying these objects. The artist’s bold move aims to provoke thought and discussion on cultural heritage, restitution, and the legacies of colonialism in today’s art world.
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