The Loot is an eight-part series about art-robbery through centuries.
During wars, revolutions and colonial occupation, often even state-backed thefts take place. The most special showpieces were brought triumphantly on floats into the hometown. Sometimes it was a diamond, other times a complete temple that was demolished brick by brick and completely rebuilt elsewhere. Then again a towering obelisk or a huge gold and silver treasure. Napoleon commissioned raids throughout Europe and North Africa to make the Louvre the museum centre of the world. During colonialism, the looted art was considered a colonial heritage and therefore the property of the colonizer. But is all that property rightfully owned and who actually determines that? Should European museums not conduct a large-scale introspective investigation into unlawful heritage in the collections? What happens if (Western) museums proactively return objects? Is it primarily a way to come to terms with yourself? That is what The Loot is about.