We gave the colloquium the title “The Topology of the Intangible” with the aim of drawing attention to the abstract connections between culture, science and society as experienced in museums and exhibitions. Scenography in these contexts is our central focus.
The intangible aspects of an exhibition
Atmosphere is a combination of a space, the objects or people in it, the light, the sound and the smell – in short, all the sensory impressions that form the background to a story. For no matter what format is chosen, an exhibition is basically a story, and the art of telling that story is the invisible thread that holds it all together.
Relevance and context
Interaction
Exhibitions are always interactive. But interaction in a room is not limited to exhibitions. We are always interacting with our environment, whether we are on the street, in a bar, or simply with another person. Exhibition visitors interact with the space, the objects, the images, and the other visitors.
Examples of Holzer Kobler architecture
“We have no need of other worlds. We need mirrors.” (Stanislas Lem, Solaris)
In the following paragraphs, I present some thoughts about and examples of our approach to the scenography and design of exhibitions.
Exhibition: Rumour – Museum of Communication, Berne, Switzerland
Exhibition: Heimatkunde. How German is it? 30 Artists’ Notion of Home – Jewish Museum Berlin, Germany