Beyond the Façade of Fascism: On heritage, Care, and Repair
︎︎︎event 21.05.2024
at IASPIS, Stockholm
with Husam Abusalem
intro by Magnus Ericsson
Drawing from the ongoing projects, 2cm: the Thickness of Fascism (Silvia Susanna) and Anti-Atlas of Fascist-Colonial Architecture (Husam Abusalem), together, they delved into the impact of this architectural legacy from broad urban perspectives to the intricate details of construction materials, weaving together floor plans with profanations and wall sections with colonial narratives.
The conversation will begin by addressing what fascist colonial architecture represents, then continue to analyse how the authorised heritage discourse normalised the preservation and presence of this peculiar architectural legacy despite its heavy history.
It will delve into how modern architectural tools justify this approach through the claim of neutral scientific instruments and then go on to explain the historical, spatial, and social context of this architectural legacy and visit neglected micro-histories that have been replaced by this fascist colonial architecture.
The conversation will conclude by drawing parallels between fascist-colonial architecture in Sicily and settler colonialism in Palestine.
Beyond the Façade of Fascism: On heritage, care, and repair is a continuation of the series of presentations and conversations around issues of artistic practice and cultural heritage within the IASPIS public programme that was introduced in 2022.