Goulandris Natural History Museum

 

 

The creation of a travelling exhibition, which could travel to different cities in Greece and abroad, was a concept simultaneously difficult to realize and also very interesting.

The museologists along with the museographers set up a team that had to answer a fundamental question: How such a specialized topic can appeal to the general public and how the specific survey process and the results can be simplified so that the exhibition visitors will understand it?

All these concerns were answered through continuous processes of and experiments with the information and the mode of transmission. The study of information led to the specifying identification of three thematic areas: the excavation, the research of skeletal and dental material and the reconstruction. The museological study and the final set up of the exhibition were developed on this tripartite structure. Utilizing the digital vocabulary of modern times but keeping all the same the inherent need for communication, the museologists team hopes to transfer the experience of scraping the past and to create a bidirectional, cognitive and emotional passage to the present, seeking mystics for an intangible ritual.

 

 

Following the current trends of museological practice, that seek the active presence of the visitor at the exhibition, according to the gradation of transmitted information, new ways of approach and presentation were selected. The researchers talk about their work through video, and exhibition texts represent a comprehensive and easily understandable information framework. The exhibition is complemented by experiential exhibits and appropriate lighting and the site constitutes a supportive source of information.

 

National Archaeological Museum

 

 

 

 

At the same time the museographers experiment with different construction modules and choose an adaptable and flexible modular system that allows numerous architectural compositions according to each exhibition space floor plans. Using instructions the modular system can easily be mantled and dismantled with minimum time and cost, factors extremely important for the sustainability of a travelling exhibition. (Floor plan 1 is from the ”Myrtis: face to face with the past” exhibition at the Goulandris Natural History museum and floorplan 2 its adaptation at the National Archaeological Museum. At both floor plans the visitors’ route is visible)

 

 

Ακολουθώντας τις σύγχρονες τάσεις της µουσειολογικής και μουσειογραφικής  πρακτικής, που ζητούν την ενεργητική παρουσία του επισκέπτη στο χώρο, σε συνάρτηση µε τη διαβάθµιση της µεταδιδόµενης πληροφορίας, επιλέχθηκαν νέοι τρόποι προσέγγισης και παρουσίασης. Έτσι, λοιπόν, οι ίδιοι οι ερευνητές µιλάνε για το έργο τους µέσα από βίντεο, Τα κείµενα της έκθεσης συνιστούν ένα σφαιρικό και εύκολα κατανοητό πληροφοριακό πλαίσιο. Η έκθεση περιλαµβάνει ενεργητικά βιωµατικά εκθέµατα και πλαισιώνεται από κατάλληλο φωτισμό. Τέλος, η ηχητική συνοδεία βοηθά τον επισκέπτη στη συναισθηματική του κορύφωση καθώς αντικρίζει τη Μύρτιδα, το 11χρονο κορίτσι που έζησε την εποχή του Περικλή.

 

Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki

 

 

 

Following the above concept the exhibition was redesigned for the archeological museum of Thessaloniki. The main concern was to modify the modular system in order to fit the space requirements as well as preserve the information flow.

 

 

 

 

Especially at the I. Vokotopoulou hall where the exhibition is hosted, the visitor faces the exhibition from above, thus having a panoramic view of it. While he descends towards the exhibition, little Myrtis’ side face is following him as well as guiding him to her short journey.

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It is surprising that so far all museums that have hosted the Myrtis’ exhibition are contributing to her journey, by enriching the exhibition with artifacts from their collections. The archeological museum exhibited funerary steles depicting “dexioses” (hand-shaking) of the same period with Myrtis, just at the end of the exhibition where the educational programs took place. The archaeological museum of Thessaloniki exhibits golden myrtle wreath alongside with children’s toys contemporary with Myrtis.

 

So the visitor has the opportunity through his visit to experience the amalgamation of the past, the present and the future through the contribution of history and science.

 

 

Natasha Kalou, Museographer

 

 

Muzeji i galerije Podgorice (Montenegrin)

 

 

 

 

In the fourth in order presentation at the Museum of Podgorica in Montenegro, the exhibition hall is located on the first floor of the building, and is oblong. That is why we have chosen to follow a pattern similar to that of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. All presentations up to now have been based on the original concept of the study-team for a spiral movement, that scales the visitor's interest for the exhibit, while giving all the necessary information.

The exhibition is divided into two parts: the entrance part (visible while ascending  the staircase on the first floor of the Museum) introduces the visitor to what is to be seen. Along with that go the archaeological data and the short timetable of excavations. The movable panels have been arranged in such a way so as to smooth out the visitor’s path to all the sections of the exhibition.

While approaching the main section of the exhibition, the visitor sees from a distance the skull and reads the medical information. Following the chronological narrative he arrives at the entrance of the area where he will see the main exhibit. «24 centuries later …» he ends in front of Myrtis.

The exit is through a straight corridor, which does not disturb the operation of the rest of the exhibition.

 

 

Design adaptation Panayiotis B. Michalopoulos (civil engineer) and drafting Redecoration design team.