Eredità di guerra e segni d’arte / Heritage of War and Signs of Art

Abstract

Among the legacies of the 20th century are defensive lines of bunkers and military structures as uncomfortable presences and controversial expressions of totalitarian ideologies, conflict, and death. While their technical features reflect a functional relationship between form and matter, their intrinsic meaning raises complex questions for conservation. Can such sites be considered ‘cultural heritage’? Beyond technical attributes, they carry the burden of a difficult past, often linked to nondemocratic regimes leading to their classification as Dissonant Heritage. Even when acknowledged as heritage, the challenge remains: how can they be reintegrated into the present? What conservation practices are acceptable? Can artistic intervention provide new meanings without compromising legitimacy? This contribution explores these dilemmas through European and global case studies of bunker lines.