Exhibition spaces...

Students can begin to develop the means to express their own reactions to the physical space and methods used to stage an exhibition or display of work of art, design or craft in a museum or gallery environment. In order to be able to carefully evaluate the impact of an exhibition or display, student discussions or assignments could actually commence with a series of observations and descriptions of the physical space and the presentation techniques used. These types of assignments can prompt students to examine the impact of exhibition design on viewer perceptions and reactions.

Questions could request students to examine and analyse the use of wall and floor space, the use of lighting, the manner in which two-dimensional works are placed against wall surfaces and the ways in which these works are framed or mounted for display, the use of floor space, display cases, plinths or platforms for the display of three-dimensional works, the use of colour or textures on walls or display surfaces, the placement of barriers to protect works, and the format and placement of labels and catalogues. Students may even be able to provide descriptions of visitor movements and reactions in an exhibition or display space.

The following could be included in a list of questions for discussion or investigation…

Physical space:

Is this exhibition staged in one room, several rooms, or a single space with subdivisions or clearly defined different sections?

If multiple sections of space or multiple rooms have been used for a single exhibition, how have the exhibits been placed in these areas?

Have works or art, design or craft been placed directly on the floor, and has floor space been used for display cabinets, platforms or plinths?

Describe the use of colour and textures on the walls of the museum or gallery space allocated for the exhibition. Is the use of colour and texture on the walls uniform throughout the exhibition space? Is the use of wall colour and texture related to the exhibition theme or the subjects depicted in the works on display?

If the use of the wall colour and texture has varied throughout the exhibition area, have colour changes been directly related to the display of different exhibits?

Lighting:

Describe the light sources available in the exhibition or display space.

Are there multiple light sources in the exhibition space?

If natural daylight is available, then describe the exhibits nearest to the windows or skylights.

Has artificial lighting been used in conjunction with natural light sources? If so, describe the placement of different exhibits in relation to the daylight and artificial light sources.

If the exhibition space relies on the use of artificial light sources, describe the placement of these light sources, the level of lighting on the exhibition space, and the relationship between the light sources and the placement of the exhibits.

If lighting levels vary throughout the exhibition space, then describe the impact of the lighting changes on the presentation of the exhibits.

Displays of two-dimensional exhibits:

If the exhibition or display features two-dimensional works hung on the walls or partitions, how high and how close have these worked been placed?

Has the placement of exhibits mounted on the walls resulted in particular advantages or any problems for visitors?

Are the two-dimensional works mounted or framed, and are the mounts or frames the same throughout the exhibition? Describe differences in the mounts or frames if the use of mounts or frames varies.

Displays of three-dimensional exhibits:

Describe the three-dimensional works of art, design or craft that have been placed directly on the exhibition floor space. How much clear floor space has been left around each work?

If display cases or cabinets, platforms or plinths have been used for the exhibition presentation, describe their size, the types of work displayed in these areas and the materials, colours and textures used to produce these display stands.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of including display cases or cabinets, platforms or plinths as a part of the exhibition presentation?

Barriers and visitor pathways:

Are there any barriers in the exhibition barriers in the exhibition area? Describe the type of barriers used.

Why have the barriers been placed in sections of the exhibition of the exhibition space?

How do visitors react to the use of exhibition barriers?
Catalogues, exhibit lists and labels:

Does the exhibition or display feature catalogues or exhibit lists? Describe the size and design of these catalogues or lists, as well as any other associated printed items, such as publicity cards.

Describe the printed format used for the catalogue or exhibition list.

Describe the placement of any labels associated with individual exhibits, the shapes and background colours used for the labels, and the lettering styles incorporated into the label presentation.

Describe the type of information included on the exhibit labels.

Visitor space:

Have the exhibition organisers defined a distinct single pathway for visitors to follow through the exhibition or display space? If there is a specific route, how have the exhibition organisers marked out this pathway?

Describe the amount of space available for visitors to stand in front of individual exhibits, or the amount of space available for visitors to move from one exhibit to another.

Is seating available for visitors in the exhibition or display space? Has the seating been placed in a central location in the exhibition space? Has the seating been placed near specific exhibits? Describe any advantages or disadvantages associated with the use of seating in the exhibition space.