European museums today can hardly avoid addressing the histories of their objects. Which sometimes turns out to be more successful, sometimes less. The exhibition FIKTION KONGO is currently on view at the Rietberg Museum in Zurich, where objects from the collection of ethnologist Hans Himmelheber are purposefully confronted with works by contemporary Congolese artists. A successful approach, says Ann Mbuti.

What follows after growth? The idea of relentless growth and progress is nowadays the only economic force that matters. It means increased living standards. But at the same time, it would be irresponsible to continue ignoring the human and environmental costs, the lost livelihoods and damaged landscapes that economic growth and all its promises causes. […]