What happens to the design object when it becomes a museum object - Essay Example

? Introduction The museum is a place where different historical objects, which may help in describing lots of different stories of the past that could otherwise have been destroyed or remain untold if the related objects were not placed in museum. The stories are perceived by different people or visitors in different ways1. Important thing to consider is that whether the importance of the object along with the story behind the object increases or not? In addition to this, how the meaning of the design object changes by placing the object in the museum? The answer to these questions lies in the development of cognizant regarding the museum and how it impacts the value of the object Concept of Museum The Museum, as described above, is a place which is not only an artistically design building of different historical objects, but it may also have profound impacts on the people, who have interest in the history hidden behind the object2. The Museums are normally established with having social authority. The social authority refers to the perception that museum creates regarding the meaning and importance of the object. In depth and highly reliable research is required to place the object in the museum along with its exact history. The social authority also refers the social responsibility of the authority, who manages the museum objects along with its deep traces, so that the trust of the people must be maintained regarding the reliability of the history behind the object. The museum controls the ways of seeing3. 1 Controlling the ways may mean that the perception of the people regarding the object can be created or developed by the museum authorities through the way of presentation of the object along with the context of the history described with the object. The museum, as described above, creates its importance and validity. Museums are believed to be the places, where not only historical objects are gathered but their importance also increases. In other words, museum does not only gather the valuable objects but the value and the meaning of the object increase by gathering the objects under one roof. The museum’s artistic framework and design make it able to generate and spread the cultural knowledge that can change the value of the object. Moreover, the museum preserves the cultural heritage so the people from the new world can trace its history more interestingly and realistically4.. The value of the design object: Discoveries of different objects may always lead to the creation of new story of the past. Past has always left some signs to be remembered. The objects such as paintings, metals, clothes, skeletons, books, papers etc may be the representative of the past. The reason is that the people from the past are no more. Therefore, only their related stuff can help the researchers, as well as, those who take interest in the histories of the people who are no more. The importance of its history may be mixed with the histories of other objects. Therefore, the common eyes may not be able to catch its importance4. The increase or decrease in value of the objects by displaying the objects in the museum depends upon following different factors 2 1. Size of The Object The Size of the object matters a lot in terms of its importance in front of the common eyes. The reason is that the big pictures, objects can be easily captured by the eyes but the small objects along with thousands of different objects may be neglected because the eyes may not be able to catch the objects view. Therefore, small objects if combined with other object in the museum may have low value in front of common eyes. On the contrary, the people who have high interest in the history of the particular times they may give high value to even the small objects as well. It can be explained with the help of the common example of museum of Australia 5. The histories behind the aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ancestral provide different tales of the past6.3 2. Display Pattern Of the Object: The Museum’s worth along with the worth of its objects also depends upon the display pattern, which is followed by the museum authorities to represent objects. Lacan’s Concept of Gaze describes how processes of display in the cultural history museum help in increasing the importance of the objects7. 4 a) Legislating Museum: During the 19th century, the legislating Museums were established. The main purpose of the object was to create a distinct and distant relationship between the object and the subject. The Object refers to the displayed materials in the museum whereas the subject means the visitors. Previously, the museum was believed to be the container of the objects or the place where different historical objects were placed awfully. After the 19th century, when the concept of legislating Museum was inculcated, the relationship between the subject and the object was established. The Concept of legislating museum was developed to promote the preservation of cultural heritage with the help of creating strong relationship between the object and the subject. It was actually created as a venue to display not debate. The museum presents the paragon of aesthetic and intellectual pursuit. b) Interpreting Museum: The Interpreting Museum refers to the strength of relationship between the object and the subject. The relationship can be defined in terms of the interpretation. The idea or the perception of the object is created by the viewer through the way of bifurcated interpretation that mediates the perception. In the interpreting museum the objects are placed along with the interpreters. The Subjects splits his attention between object and interpreter. The interpreter mediates the relationship between the subject and the object. Therefore, the interpreting museum is described in terms of the three different phases. Phase1: Ideal mediation, which refers to the fact that the interpretation by the interpreter and the perception of the object by the subject are same. Phase2: Split View, refers the point where interpretation by interpreter is somewhat different from the perception of the subject. Phase3: Liaison with the Interpreter’s View, refers to the point when the liaison was created between the interpreter’s view and the perception of the object by the subject. c) Performing Museum: Another form of museum, which was inculcated after the interpreting museum, was the performing museum, which describes the importance of display regardless of importance of information. The performing museums move away from the object usage, which is considered as the primary element to describe or to convey information. The display methodology has become an integral part of such kind of museums. The performing museums are more inclined towards the commercialization of the museum rather than the in depth research work. The aim of the performing museum is to entertain the viewers or visitors instead of building their knowledge. The Commercial aspects of the museum increase the value of the object but the intent of the object to educate the viewers regarding the history may be distorted. Relationship between the Typologies and the Value of The Design Object: All of the above mentioned typologies or the kinds of typologies help in establishing the relationship between the “Change in Meaning of the Design Object” and the “Objects Display Strategies in Museum”. The Meaning of the Design objects can be changed significantly depends upon the objects display strategy by the museum. The legislating museum increases the value of the object by placing it in the museum. It represents the cultural heritage, which is hard to capture if the object is viewed in isolation and out of the museum. The reason is that the museum is actually a liaison between the subject and the object. On the other hand, the meaning of the design object may be somewhat changed by displaying it in the interpreting museum. The split between the interpreter and the object perception creates a new or somewhat changed history of the object. Therefore, the value of the object can increase or decrease in the interpreting museum. Application Of the Changed Meaning To Different Objects: Steven Thompson in his research based article on ``The Arts of the Motorcycle`` Describes the fact that the liking of Bikes for Harley Davidson may lead to totally different views than other people respond for routinely used bikes8. There are some emotional attachments for the Harley Davidson Bikes. The reason behind the liking is the cultural and technological acceptance9. Now the question arises whether all the object placed or displayed in the museum have experienced the changed meanings or not? The answer lies in the explanation of cultural and emotional attachments for the historical objects10. The meaning of all the objects may not necessarily change but the importance of the object may change depends upon the social attachment of the object by the viewers. Therefore, it is hard to conclude that the meaning of all the objects can be changed by placing the object in museum. The Museum must place the object in a more systematic way so the meanings of the object can be defined more properly and accurately. 5 Affects on the way Designers approach Designs: There are different ways regarding how the designers approach designs. As already described above there are different typologies that the designers use to develop the design of the museums along with the object design. The designers use the museum typologies depends upon the type of the objects that should be placed within the museum11. Therefore, it is important to develop the cognizant regarding the object history, as well as, its category 12. The approach of the design objects can be further bifurcated into following different ways6 1. Archeology Museums: The archeology museums refer to the kind of museum, which is particularly specialized in the display of the artifacts. The way the designers approach the designs for archeology museums are quite much different . Internationally most of the archeology museums are not indoor typical museums. They are mostly outdoor museums 13. Agora of Athens and Roman Forum are most common and famous examples of Archaeology Museums14. The Agora of Athens is one of the best examples of ancient Greek Agora. The museum represents the cultural heritage of the ancient Greeks. The museum designed in an artistic approach that includes the blend of glass, clay, bronze and sculptures. Roman Forum was also established to represent the cultural heritage of the Romans with the help of historical artifacts. 2. Encyclopedic Museums: The Encyclopedic Museums are normally large museums, normally established within the large institutions. The Encyclopedic museums help the visitors to have a detailed access to almost all kinds of local, as well as, global information. 3. Living History Museums: The Living History Museums are designed in a way that it reconstructs the historical time period with the help of an interpreter of the past time 15. The Living History Museums refer to the artificial recreation of the past time that may help the visitors to better understand the history. Therefore, the design of the living history museums is developed by the designers by considering the similarities of the past time. This requires in depth research work and large amount of funding to engage the writers of the history 16. 4. Other Ways Designers Approach Designs: There are number of different ways regarding designers approach designs. There can be War Museums, Natural History Museums, Science museums etc.17. Each kind of museum has its own way of representing the history. The history may have different relations. Therefore, the museum authorities approach the design of the object by considering the context of history 18. In addition to this, it can be possible that the same object may represent varied stories, which may have relations with different kinds of histories19. Therefore, the similar objects can be used in different kinds of museums. Designer’s Works This part of the paper presents the real examples of some designer’s works along with the facts how the meaning of the object has changed by their design works and artistic behaviors. Designs By Marcel Wonders 20: Marcel Wonders is considered as one of the most famous multidisciplinary designer. He is also the founder of Marcel Wander’s Studio. The Designs by Marcel Wander range from manufactured products with artistic designs to architecture and interior designs. Marcel Wanders designs are placed in Philadelphia Museum of Art. As per my opinion, the designs of objects were created in artistic way by Marcel Wander that have changed the perception of the people. The Philadelphia Museum of Art presented the designs by Marcel Wander by using Video images, sounds and other visual effects, which gives new meanings to the life perception. The Premises of Modernism was challenged by Wander through his Avant Grade Works like “Knotted Chair” (1996) Knotted Chair 7Designs By Bill Moggridge 21 Bill Moggridge was the director of Smithsonian’s Cooper Hewit. He contributed significantly towards the development of National Museum of Cooper Hewit. He was the fourth director of Cooper Hewit Museum. He presented both virtual and real exhibitions> Bill developed high tech design for his clients in various different countries. One of the most important designs by Bill Moggridge was “Grid Compass”. The Grid Compass was also known as the first laptop computer. As per my opinion, his designs have given different view to technology which is more effective and easy to use. The designs have now been placed in the Cooper Hewit Museum. After placing his designs in the museum the great designer’s designs have been preserved carefully with interesting historical deviations. First Laptop Design Computer by Bill Moggridge 8 9 Designs By Tom Dixon22. Tom Dixon is furniture designer and created unusual and creative designs. Tom Dixon created wire chairs, Crown chairs, Slaty chairs etc. The designs by tom Dixon are now exhibited in different artistic museums internationally. Today Tom Dixon is considered as one of the leading creative designer of the world. Tom Dixon gave new perception to furniture designs and his museum based exhibitions of furniture have changed the meanings of the furniture designs by using creative designs. Chair Design by Tom Dixon Conclusion Different researches and literatures have proved that the meaning of the object certainly change when the objects are removed from their origin and placed in the museum Therefore, it is important for the museum authorities to understand and represent as accurate history as possible. In addition to this, it is the social responsibility of the museum authorities to conduct and use highly reliable and accurate research work regarding the objects that are placed in the museum, so the accurate knowledge can be maintained and spread in front of the visitors and new researchers. The new outlook of the museum tomorrow has also been diverging towards 3D and visual presentation of the design object22. Moreover, the new generation museum inculcate the culture of marketing. The Design objects by different designers have different meanings and impacts. The Idea behind every designer is to inculcate the concept of different perception for the same object. If the simple object can be perceived by the meaning other than the meaning based on its normal perceptions, it means the designer is successful in changing the way people think for an object. Therefore, the meaning of the design object certainly changes if it is brought into the museum by the designer provided the designer is creative enough to change the way people perceive for an object. In addition to this, the designers` work studied for the purpose of this report was all creative and successful in achieving their goal of transferring their thinking to people for the design object by placing the objects in the museum. So the designer`s aesthetic sense matters a lot in changing the meaning of the design object. Bibliography Brown, S., Doherty, A.M. & Clarke, B., eds. Romancing the market. London & New York: Routledge,1998 Butcher-Younghans, S. Historic House Museums: A Practical Handbook for Their Care, Preservation, and Management. 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