在文化競爭中建立國族：1947-1948年在皇家藝術學院舉辦的「印度藝術」展覽

Constructing the Nation Through Cultural Contest: The Royal Academy Exhibition of “Indian Art”, 1947-1948

從1947年11月到1948年2月，位於倫敦的皇家藝術學院舉辦了一個主要從印度和巴基斯坦自治領地來的藝術品展覽。英國殖民末的印巴分裂造就了印度和巴基斯坦兩個國家的建立，而這個展覽的舉辦時間也只是在分裂後不過三個月而已。許多南亞藝術史的歷史學者對這個展覽並不感到陌生，因為此展覽中的不少展品後來成為這兩個國家的重要收藏品。但這些藏品所被用來建立國族認同的意涵卻鮮少被注意到。如何去理解這些意涵，不是光看哪些藝術品被展出，而是去瞭解在幕後針對這些展品所進行的文化價值和古董評判的角力競爭。皇家藝術學院的展覽規劃一直被歷史學界認定為是一種外交工具。除了達成英國的某些外交目的之外，本文想要進一步探討的是，這個展覽對於這兩個南亞新獨立國家的建構及在其公民身分認同的論述中所扮演的角色。

An “Exhibition of Art Chiefly, from the Dominions of India and Pakistan” was held at the Royal Academy of Arts in London between November 1947 and February 1948, a mere three months after the partition of British India had produced the nation states of India and Pakistan. This exhibition is well known to South Asian art historians, as several of the objects collected for it went on to form the core of the new national collections in the region. But it is less recognised as a crucible for constructing national identity – not because of what was on display, but through the contest for objects of cultural value and antiquity that took place behind the scenes. The Royal Academy’s programme of exhibitions of art from outside Britain has been recognised as a diplomatic tool in scholarly historical writing. However, in addition to any British diplomatic objectives, the article demonstrates the role this exhibition played in constructing nationhood, and articulating citizenship in newly independent South Asia.