Musee de la civilisation - Nigerian Arts
Location85 Dalhousie, Quebec, QC, CAN
Type(s) of establishment
Type Temporary Exhibition
Collection African art, wood carvings and masks
Musée de la civilisation, Quebec, QC, CAN.
Musée de la civilisation, Quebec, QC, CAN.
Organized by commissioner Alain Lebas, the exhibition presents a total of 187 objects of great aesthetic value associated with 44 of the 250 ethnic groups who inhabit Nigeria.
These magnificent objects, drawn from the private collections of 26 French collectors, date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
These magnificent objects, drawn from the private collections of 26 French collectors, date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Big plan on little-known art, with multiple mystical, social, aesthetic, and historical dimensions
We can see masks, the statues and statuettes and different types of objects that have a real experience and that have been used for worship, through ceremonies and funeral rituals, dance, transmission of knowledge and others. These objects, mostly made of carved wood, bear witness to the cultural wealth and worshipers of Nigeria.
The Scope
The concept of a very refined and contemporary exhibition came to highlight the unique and diverse characteristics of these African objects.
The intention was to limit as much as possible the use of structures and pedestals, ideally without even perceiving the supports, to give a "floating" effect to the objects.
Challenge
The fabrication of airtight and structureless glass display cases is often a real challenge, both in terms of access systems and the level of flexibility they offer, especially for lighting and support solutions.
Our Solutions
The design of glass display cases without structure and with openings using suction cups was the solution of choice for this temporary exhibition project with a limited budget.
Access to the display cases was only necessary when the objects were initially set-up and when the exhibition was dismantled a few months later.
The museum being very well equipped with ceiling lighting, the result of lighting through the glass tops of the display cases was a flawless choice and was able to show off even the finest details of these masks and sculptures.
The museum being very well equipped with ceiling lighting, the result of lighting through the glass tops of the display cases was a flawless choice and was able to show off even the finest details of these masks and sculptures.
The use of thin steel rods and small pedestals arranged in the colors of the display case made it possible to conceal as much as possible the appearance of the support points to give a floating effect that the exhibition designer was looking for.
The use of thin steel rods and small pedestals arranged in the colors of the display case made it possible to conceal as much as possible the appearance of the support points to give a floating effect that the exhibition designer was looking for.