Possible relations within the museum context are sheer infinite. Analyzing how vitrines, light, space, sound, materials, barriers, signs and all the other inanimate and animate elements interact, revealed an unwritten rule book on how to act, perceive and shape museums for guests as well as staff, artists and all other people that do museum. A “norm” is being upheld in those big and small parts, so that when entering a museum, one senses its nudges. What would happen if we started queering the museum by just queering parts of those senses? In the course of engaging with the Humboldt Forum, I developed an interest on how the light barrier system partakes in creating barriers not only for security purposes, but also in reinforcing certain behavioral norms and ways of perceiving one self’s position when facing the displayed. By queering this system as part of the broader museum curation, I question how modifying the museum interior could establish (queer) relations between the different elements of the display and visitors.
In our installation, the light and sound barrier it is reinterpreted instead of being rejected. I suggest a different version of it coming from my perspective as a queer young woman. An object on display will invite people to come closer. In doing so, participants will detect an alternative sound that replaces the universally alarming sound with a queer language. It is a sound that some might find inviting, others may find repulsive. In interaction with the installation, people are invited to question how they feel in their bodies and how they relate to the object(s) in the museum. Informed by this new experience, the installation is an invitation to reflect on how museum visitor usually feel when visiting a museum.
Format: Interactive installation
Materials: Glass object, light sensors, audio track
About the contributors:
Alessia Oesing (idea and concept) studies human geography at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. She also work in, and is passionate about club awareness. Beyond that, her interests as an artist are driven by emotions, relations and bodies underlined with an interdisciplinary approach.
Emilia Gentis (technichal implementation) studies communication design at HTW Berlin. She applies a wide range of interests to her projects, from graphic design to new media. With an open-minded approach, she thrives on experimentation and constantly seeks to push the boundaries of traditional design.