W: WUNDERKABINETT TO LET
A FANTASTIC GERMAN WORD, THE WUNDERKABINETT IS THE PRECURSOR TO THE MUSEUM, DEVELOPED IN THE RENAISSANCE. IT’S AN EXHIBITION SPACE IN WHICH MISCELLENAOUS CURIOSITIES ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER FOR PRIVATE PLEASURE.
“As far as I can tell, the only thing worth looking at in most museums of art are all the schoolgirls on day trips with the art departments.”
-Banksy
Museums are churches of art. Places to worship! Dead and alive at the same time! Artworks get elevated to a nearly sacred prominence once installed in the vast open spaces. In the same frenzy chapels and small churches have been built in every town, small museums popped up.
Major museums are cathedrals in big cities. Inside hovers comparable serenity. People whisper to each other, scared to disturb others in their prayers. It’s no surprise that the first public spaces where art could be admired were churches. Strange little heritage! No wonder museums encounter difficulty convincing lay people to visit shows. No one wants to go to church! We should all put a stop to that. Let’s declare our modest revolution!
Agree to it that when you’re granted a museum show, it will live with blood and guts! Don’t feel overwhelmed by the heavy inheritance of our former temples of faith! Shoot the priest! Invent engaging interactions with the audience! Let people participate in the show! Let them experience your art as they never experienced art before!
The most successful modern art museum in the world is Tate Modern. 25 million people have visited the museum since the opening in may 2006. You hear London art scene people complain about the theme park aspect of the museum, with kids in classes making noise or giggling when looking at Paul McCarthy’s ‘Rocky’. But this attitude, the openness towards the audience or the breathtaking Turbine Hall sensations, all is part of the enormous success of the gallery. No need to bother about the mass of visiting people. It is fantastic that someone managed to attract so many people to see contemporary art in this modern-day Wunderkabinett!
