For about a decade, dissonant monuments and heritage have been contested around the world. Empowered by the Black Lives Matter movement and anti-colonial activism in Europe and Africa, this process has become remarkably global. However, there has also been a serious lack of global exchange of knowledge and practices on how to think and work through heritage linked to colonialism, slavery, and authoritarian regimes. Eastern Europe is the region that has most recently become embroiled in monument wars, as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has dramatically altered the meaning and status of Soviet and Russian heritage. In many countries, this has led to the removal of monuments, facade decorations, etc. In my talk, I will focus on Estonia. Since 2022, Estonia has experienced the state-sponsored removal of Soviet monuments, primarily WWII memorials. There have also been extensive public debates about dissonant heritage involving various stakeholders, including politicians, activists, and art and heritage workers.

Linda Kaljundi from Estonian Academy of Arts will provide an overview of monument toppling and the involvement of state institutions in this process. Additionally, Kaljundi will explore possible alternatives to toppling and removal, based on my experience with the interdisciplinary project, “How to Reframe Monuments”, which aims to develop and test artistic and academic recontextualizations of toxic heritage.

Co-Sponsors: Department of History and Russian and Eurasian Studies Program