Implicated Collections: Counter-Cartography and the Traces of Ancestral Remains

This talk explores the ethical, epistemological, and spatial challenges posed by the presence of Ancestral Remains in Berlin’s museum collections. Conceptualizing these remains as “traces” in the Derridean sense, it highlights their dual function as evidence of colonial violence and lost histories. Using counter-cartography, examining the networks of extraction, circulation, and institutional entanglements, showcases how colonial infrastructures shaped their presence in Berlin’s institutions. Relying on Rothberg’s notion of the Implicated Subject, the talk argues for institutional accountability that bridges individual and structural responsibility. While recognizing the impossibility of full restitution, the suggests proposes “accountable hope” as a framework for ethical engage, supporting decolonial practices, repatriation, and collaborative efforts with descendant communities.

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