What Makes A Museum?
Discover how anyone can be a curator and just about anything can be a museum.
For hundreds of years, cultural institutions and organizations have dictated what can and cannot be a museum, but at MagnificentH, our mission is to democratise the concept of exhibitions altogether with our own personal micro-museums.
The subject matter of a museum shouldn’t have to be academic, and the format doesn’t need to resemble anything like a traditional exhibition. Museums can explore political statements, be immersive experiences, and take place in the digital realm.
Here are some of our favourite unique ‘museums’:
See LV
Museums don’t have to have academic subject matter. In 2022, French fashion house Louis Vuitton launched a touring exhibit known as See LV, which made international stops in China, Australia, Japan, and Dubai. It took visitors on an immersive journey through the brand’s heritage, combining digital displays, fashion items from the brand’s archive, and art pieces inspired by collections to create a unique experience that was much more exciting than a mere retrospective. Part-immersive museum, part-exclusive shopping experience, the exhibition concluded with a mini library room filled with books created by the company available for purchase.
Dismaland
Traditional museums aren’t the only place to experience art and culture. Instead of exhibiting his work in a museum or on the streets of the UK, as British artist Banksy is most known for, he decided to create his own theme park back in 2015. A tongue-in-cheek take on Disneyland, Banksy’s Dismaland featured original Banksy artworks alongside sculptures, murals, and installations from over 50 other artists. Visitors were invited to play games and queue for rides amongst actors who roamed the park spreading their disdain.
The David Bowie Centre
Museums don’t have to be huge, expansive rooms with lengthy exhibitions to walk through. A single room at the V&A East London museum storehouse is a working archive for the pop star David Bowie. Visitors can order objects from his vast collections of costumes, musical instruments, props, and art for free, in a unique chance to see them up-close. Dedicated museum assistants help visitors interact with the objects they have chosen and explain them in more detail, removing the museum glass and making important cultural artefacts accessible to everyone.
59 Rivoli
Museums don’t have to be founded by official organisations. When artists in Paris took over an abandoned bank in 1991, they turned their squat into a commune, known as 59 Rivioli. The artists welcomed members of the public into the building to explore their workshops, view their pieces, and meet with artists personally for an intimate art experience. When the city tried to evict the artists in 2001, they were met with resistance, and upon discovering that over 40,000 people were visiting 59 Rivoli each year, they realised its cultural significance. City officials bought the building and have allowed it to remain open for 30 artists in residence to this day.
These unique museums have pushed the boundaries of what can be considered an exhibition, but they still require in-person attendance to experience them. Micro-museums are a digital extension of physical self-hosted shows, allowing brands and artists to scale their intimate storytelling.
