making an exhibition

reconstruction of the International Theatre Exhibition 1922

A reconstruction that makes the invisible visible

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.


 

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.


 

XR Museum


The exterior facade that invites the public to visit the unpredicted

Montage by Jedan Tutuhatunewa


 

reconstructing the interior

Using the floorplan and photographs of the 1922 exhibition to construct the virtual space


Executed by Tijm Lanjouw, 4D research Lab UVA


 

Point of departure

STEDELIJK MUSEUM, AMSTERDAM 1922 

THE INTERNATIONAL THEATRE EXHIBITION OF 1922 AND THE CRITICS
Designed by
 H. T. Wijdeveld
Project initiated by Peter G.F. Eversmann UVA Theater Science.


 

virtual reconstruction

 The virtual reconstruction of the exhibition 1922

These chapters show the 'how to' reconstruct an exhibition by showing the 'step by step' process of the 1922 event.

Content is retreived from the Dynamic Archive database.


 MAKING YOU OWN EXHIBITION?
A two step process: 1. document your content in DNA and 2. set it up in your own VR gallery
Request information


 

steps accomplished

Three stages are published in 'steps': accomplished, running and upcoming.

The following steps are accomplished


 

start with the Floorplan

Step one: the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, upper Floor (1922)


Floorplan exhibition design by H. T. Wijdeveld

Firts Floor

 


  

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

Students of the UVA 'Theater Science' execute 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.

4D Research Lab (UVA) and Rooftop Immersive Studio develop the 'Toolset' that offers designers and curators the tool to create their own VR exhibition.


 

the exhibition routing and layout

The eight exposition halls sorted by Designers and Country


 


 

The VR 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


 

steps running

Constructing the Stedelijk Museum interior, developing the Toolset to place objects from the Dynamic Archive database in the exhibition.
The development of the toolset is funded by UVA and the KIEM programme.


 

Collaborating partners

 The project content and executive team


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.


 

upcoming exhibitions

While reconstructing the 1922 exhibition we prepare the VR exhibition APOCALYPSE.
Thanks to the financial support from the Mondriaan Fonds, this VR version can be realized.


 

 

1922 - 2025 and onwards

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.


 

Opening

 The opening is sceduled in 2024/25, celebrating the founding of the Dutch Theater collection 1923/24 


 

MAKING YOU OWN EXHIBITION?

 


A two step process: 1. document your content in DNA and 2. set it up in your own VR gallery.

Request information