MUSEUM POWER

MUSEUM POWER is an experimental exhibition addressed to those of us who have visited a museum at least once in their lives and left it awestruck, or hated it or remained indifferent. We have been through that, too. What was happening to us then? How did our senses and cultural anchoring influence that experience? And how were we influenced by the museum itself?

The MUSEUM POWER exhibition tells a story about how various factors determine our perception of the world. It is a story about the power of a museum and about us – the museum visitors.

The idea was born in the Education Department of the National Museum in Krakow. Our experience in working with visitors, as well as observing how museum display strategies can influence our perception of artworks, inspired us to explore the subject even further. Our aim was to look closer at how perception changes depending on viewers’ predispositions, cognitive skills and sensitivity, and also on the presentation methods – arrangement, lighting and even the number of exhibits. This is the main topic of our exhibition.

 The gallery of photographs requires some explanation, too. The selected artworks seem to be rather unusual. Some might find them interesting, others amusing or even bizarre. What do these works have in common? What is the key to understanding them? We hope that they will arouse your curiosity and encourage you to visit the exhibition. You will see them in a very surprising version, strongly influenced by the curatorial power of expression – that mysterious power that lies within the museum.  

The exhibition features works by many artists, among them: Olga Boznańska, Alina Szapocznikow, Maria Pinińska-Bereś, Jan Matejko, Aleksander Gierymski, Jacek Malczewski, Wojciech Kossak, Józef Pankiewicz, Stanisław Witkiewicz, Jerzy Nowosielski, Jonasz Stern, Julian Jończyk, Francisco de Goya, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. You will also find works by lesser known artists and many that are seldom exhibited.

Please, take your headphones to the exhibition. They will be useful during your visit. Headphones are also available at the ticket office for PLN 2.

Curatorial team: Anna Grzelak, Dorota Jędruch, Danuta Macheta, Katarzyna Mrugała, Filip Skowron, Joanna Zaguła (cooperation: Marta Graczyńska, Izabela Stawarz)

Exhibition design: LATALA design studio (Dagmara Latała, Jacek Latała, Szymon Zakrzewski)

Coordination: Katarzyna Pawłowska

In the "Criteria Of Choice" section of the exhibition, we presented objects that share one feature - blue color.
Click below and download a list of signatures that will be useful during your visit: