making an exhibition
THE INTERNATIONAL THEATRE EXHIBITION
Making an exhibition. Showing the steps to make a concept into an exhibition.
Virtually and -if used as scenario- also as framework for a physical exhibition.
Point of departure
THE INTERNATIONAL THEATRE EXHIBITION OF 1922 AND THE CRITICS
The Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam 1922. Designed by H. T. Wijdeveld
Project initiated by Peter G.F. Eversmann UVA Theater Science
The virtual reconstruction of the exhibition 1922-2022
These pages show the 'how to' compose your own exhibition by showing the reconstruction of the 1922 event.
The project is real and will, during the coming period, be developed and change accordingly.
Because of the growing content due to the timeline 1922-2022 and onwards, this example will be dynamic and become the Canon of the Scenography thanks to the input of our international members and partners.
With this public process the Dynamic Archive aims to help our creative members with the 'how to make your own exhibition' and show the general public the building of the Canon of Scenography.
Introduction
This year it is one hundred years ago that the International Theatre Exhibition was opened on the upper floor of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. That exhibition presented the then state-of-the-art in scenography and theatre architecture. A large number of avant-garde artists who have become world famous and have acquired a definitive place in art and theatre history exhibited their work here. The exhibition was seen as revolutionary and gained worldwide recognition. A few months later, the exhibition was shown at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, where it could also count on an enthusiastic reception.
This project aims to create a virtual reconstruction of the International Theatre Exhibition of 1922 accompanied by a reflection on the design for theatre today and the future of scenography.
We start with the Floorplan
Step one: the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, upper Floor (1922)
Floorplan exhibition design by H. T. Wijdeveld
The exhibitors
Making a list of all exhibitors
Meet the EXHIBITORS of the 1922 exhibition
The objects
Inventorying and digitizing the objects from the 1922 exhibition
Step 1. scan the original catalogue
Step 2. OCR the text (OCR or Optical Character Recognition)
Step 3. Import text into excel csv (Comma Separated Values) format
Step 4. Import excel into database
IMAGE: scan of the original catalogue and csv
Research to find the originals
Finding the original objects from the catalogue of the exhibition participants
See the list of designers with key data of THE SELECTED OBJECTS
Students of the UVA 'Theater Science' will do the research in order to find the objects that are stored in different archives and collections world wide.
Additional information, description, provenance and all metadata plus curator comments will be added to the key data of each object.
When found and scanned into -2D or 3D- they will be placed in the virtual exhibition.
The general public can follow the preparing and reconstruction of the exhibition.
the exhibition routing and layout
The eight exposition halls sorted by Designers and Country
Visit the EXPOSITION LAYOUT
The location
Based on the floorplan the 3D version is being developed.
The location is on the Museumplein, opposite the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
Since it is a virtual museum, it can be experienced anywhere.
Montage by Jedan Tutuhatunewa
The first 3D sketch
Transparant 'empty' walls waiting for the furnishing and placing of the artworks.
Montage by Jedan Tutuhatunewa
The production process
Compose the production team and communicate with partners
Set-up a project to share ideas, concept texts, archive correspondence, collect and choose content.
Planning, tasks, agenda's are share with a self chosen group.
READ MORE about the project module as supporting feature of the DNA platform.
Collaborating partners
The virtual reconstruction of THE INTERNATIONAL THEATER EXHIBITION OF 1922 was initiated and orchestrated by the Department of Theater Studies at the University of Amsterdam.
Partners are the Allard Pierson Theater Collection of the 'Theater in the Netherlands' Foundation (TiN) and an International group of researchers and representatives of theater collections.
Researchers from the following countries are invited to be part of this project: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Sweden, The Netherlands, United States and the Russian Federation.
The physical exhibition today
1922 - 2022 and onwards
Scenography today
The project aims to create a virtual reconstruction of the International Theatre Exhibition of 1922 accompanied by a reflection on the design for theatre today and the future of scenography.
The exhibition offers a timeline starting in 1922.
The content will be supplemented up to the present day with scenographic works by the various important scenographers.

ABOUT THIS 'MANUAL'
(Started March/April 2022)
We will show the growing of the exhibition, the production process, production team, partners, and the proces of implementing Linked Open Data.
Finally the re-opening of the 1922 exhibition and the Timeline showing highlights of 100 years of theater design and architecture.
The Dutch Theater Collection
The opening is sceduled in 2023/24, celebrating the founding of the Dutch Theater collection 1923/24