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Summer Show 2023
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Quo Vadis? A Museum of Rome's Disrupted Narratives
In this hybrid space between a museum and a traditional store, different versions of the founding myth of Rome are showcased, with the architecture forming the narrative of the exhibits. This museum-retail hybrid reconsiders the relationship between an object and its environment by re-establishing what is expected of a museum, breaking away from traditional museology in search of new and curious experiences for the visitor.
Through exploring the relationship between an object and its context in an architectural setting, the manner tourism constructs and reinforces certain cultural meanings and readings can be better considered.
Through exploring the relationship between an object and its context in an architectural setting, the manner tourism constructs and reinforces certain cultural meanings and readings can be better considered.
The site is located in a quiet residential corner near Termini Station, Rome, facing the ancient Roman walls. While ruins typically serve as attractions, this wall, despite being part of the legacy of the Roman Empire, is much less recognised.
The design of the building is based on three traditional Italian active street frontages, a tobacco store, a taverna and a bookstore. Each of these shares a dual function as a gallery to interpret the in-situ exhibits of the museum.
Non-didactic museological curation is considered a means of presenting multiple narratives simultaneously. Three versions of Rome's origin result in three artefacts, each associated with a different space, guiding the materiality and atmosphere.
The Bartlett
Summer Show 2023
23 June – 8 July 2023
Summer Show 2023
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