Time's echo

In his book "The Order of Time," physicist Carlo Rovelli delves into the intriguing question of what time truly is, navigating the realms of both science and philosophy. Surprisingly, he suggests that our ability to conceptualize time stems from our brains, which record past and present events while also imagining future scenarios.

Rovelli notes, "The mind is the functioning of our brain...( ) Synapses continuously form and disappear in the thousands, leaving a blurred image of the past—what influenced our nervous system. This space, memory, coupled with our continuous exercise of anticipation, is the source of our perception of time and identity."

These reflections draw a parallel with the way Cultural Heritage evolves through time. Much like the past imprints itself on synapses, the material of Cultural Heritage is affected by the passage of time, providing us with a sense of history.

Cesare Brandi also contemplated the significance of time on the material of art and its essential role in the work's history. The signs of time embedded in Cultural Heritage reveal its past, enabling us to reconstruct often unknown events. They represent a collective and common memory, placing an artistic object in a specific timeframe, allowing us to appreciate it today and preserve it for tomorrow. It follows the order of time that defines our humanity.

Among the numerous reasons why Cultural Heritage is fundamental for mankind and its culture, it serves as our memory. As Proust aptly stated, since reality is formed only in memory, Cultural Heritage becomes our reality.

Art belongs to the past but leaves lasting imprints on the present. Few things and events enjoy this unique privilege. Understanding the impact of time on the material of art, studying how it changes with its passage and through human intervention and related events, becomes a task that prompts reflection on the past, an attempt to comprehend the present, and a contemplation of what awaits us in the future.

In the words of Rovelli, "Understanding ourselves means reflecting on time. But understanding time means reflecting on ourselves."

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