the museum effect, lately. wondering about what happens when we isolate something from its natural home and put it behind glass. under glass, behind ropes, doors, walls.
yes, the experience changes the viewer, asks them to consider the object isolated from habitat, but what does it do to the artifact? what is it like to be celebrated and seen? what is the view from onstage out into the bright sea of lights?
in so many ways museological artifacts seems like caged creatures -- captives in aviaries, zoos or aquariums. is the nature of these things meaningfully changed if they are pinned and presented? what if they're collected but left pinless?