Of benches and rubble: The aesthetics of difficult memory in two South African museums

This article examines the commemorative strategies of two prominent South African museums, the Apartheid Museum and the District Six Museum, focusing on how remnants of destruction and systemic oppression, incorporated as memorial objects, affect the curated aesthetics of these spaces. Particular attention is paid to how rubble links museum interiors to their surrounding landscapes, with curation attributing meaning to it as a symbol of the plight of those who have been displaced or are no longer present. This is contrasted with apartheid benches, which serve as a foil for calling forth a spirit of solidarity against bigotry. The two museums are selected as case studies for their divergent approaches to shaping post-apartheid memory and redefining collective identities. The study argues that rubble generates an aura that introduces contingency into exhibitions, potentially disrupting established narratives and offering insights into the treatment of remnants of destruction at other memory sites.