migrants ? The fact is that our society is changing , public opinion is divided , politicians and the media are , for obvious reasons , sensationalist and the outcome is that people are confused . As a museum , we inspire the visitors to look beyond the known and to move across frontiers ; not just the visible ones , but even more importantly , those invisible , to embrace the ideas and people who carry them across the borders .
The original project of the Technical Museum of Slovenia Knowledge without Frontiers focused on the positive impact of migration on society , aiming to point to a strong connection between technical and scientific heritage on the one side , and cultural and national identity on the other . The exhibition was dedicated to successful individuals across different fields of science and engineering who migrated to or from Slovenian lands from the 16th century to the present .
Scientists and inventors have always crossed frontiers for a variety of reasons , either out of their own free will or because they were forced to leave . Sometimes they did it to improve their living conditions and job opportunities or simply to expand their knowledge . However , history also bears witness to the fact that a person can become a “ stranger ” in their own land . States and their borders change , and Slovenia is a perfect illustration as this happened several times in the previous century alone . From the Austro-Hungarian Empire to Yugoslavia , gaining independence 30 years ago and becoming a part of the European Union . There are many scientists and inventors who were born in one country , lived in another and died in a completely different one .
Now , probably this is not unique to Slovenians , but we are so proud of “ our ” scientists when they make it abroad , and yet a lot more restrained when “ foreigners ” are successful in our country . Two examples that illustrate the challenge perfectly : the record-holding astronaut , Sunita Williams was born in the USA to an ethnic Indian father and a mother descended from Slovenian immigrants . However , Slovenians think of her as one of “ ours ”. Williams is often featured in the national media and we seem to be extremely proud of her . She won over even the most reluctant by taking a traditional Slovenian sausage up to the International Space Station ! At the other extreme is Fritz Pregl . Not featured in this exhibition because he has no connection to the U . S ., he provokes mixed emotions . He was born in Ljubljana ( the capital of Slovenia ) to a Slovenian father and a German mother . Pregl studied and worked in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and in later years in Austria ( after the collapse of the empire ), his working language was German , hence he was considered “ not Slovenian ” enough . For decades he was left out of our science history records and books despite being one of the two Nobel Prize winners of Slovenian origin to date !
The tour of the Us and Them without Frontiers exhibition to the United States coincides with the 30th anniversary of Slovenia ’ s independence , and we thought it was a perfect opportunity to show “ our ” contribution to the advancement of scientific and technological development within “ your ” great nation . We want people to understand how misleading and narrow-minded such assumptions can be by portraying the lives of the featured individuals , who not only made a difference with their achievements , but did so because of migration .
The exhibition explores the fascinating connections between our two nations and the benefits of sharing the knowledge beyond frontiers , the idea which is best summed up in the line of the Slovenian rap song From People to People by Murat & Jose : “ It does not matter where you come from , what counts is what ’ s in your mind ”. We might just add – and in your heart .
Irena Marušič , Estera Cerar Exhibition Curators , Technical Museum of
Slovenia
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