Warsaw
Completed

Explore the Museum of Warsaw: Mikrokosmos rzeczy – Public & Private Life of Collections Exhibition

Uncover the institutional history and journey of everyday objects becoming curated museum pieces in Warsaw.

The 'Mikrokosmos rzeczy: publiczne i prywatne życie kolekcji' exhibition at the Museum of Warsaw explores the fascinating journey of objects. It details how personal belongings evolve into curated museum pieces, highlighting the institution's founding and growth within Warsaw's historic Old Town Market Place. With over 7,000 selected items from a vast collection, visitors gain insight into material culture and exhibition design.

About Mikrokosmos rzeczy: publiczne i prywatne życie kolekcji at Museum of Warsaw in Warsaw

Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for Mikrokosmos rzeczy: publiczne i prywatne życie kolekcji at Museum of Warsaw in Warsaw

Exhibition summary

This exhibition delves into the history of the Museum of Warsaw's collection, tracing the transformation of everyday objects into museum exhibits and the evolution of private interiors into exhibition spaces. It explores the institution's founding and growth, showcasing over 7,000 selected items from its vast collection.

Curatorial context

The exhibition 'Mikrokosmos rzeczy: publiczne i prywatne życie kolekcji' (Microcosm of Things: Public and Private Life of Collections) at the Museum of Warsaw examines the fascinating journey of objects from personal belongings to curated museum pieces. It highlights the history of the Museum of Warsaw and its institution, beginning with private collecting and expanding to its current vast collection of 300,000 items, with over 7,000 selected for display in the modernised main building. The exhibition also contextualizes the museum's development within the historical architecture of Warsaw's Old Town Market Place, noting that the museum itself is composed of eleven interconnected townhouses. It details the transformation of these former private residences into public museum spaces, a process initiated in the late 1930s and continued after World War II. The exhibition further explores the concept of 'everyday things' becoming 'museum things,' their path from personal storage to private collections, and finally into public archives and exhibitions. It also touches upon curatorial practices, including the display design that evolved from ornate furniture like sideboards to modern museum display cases and exhibition panels, contrasting historical display methods with contemporary approaches focused on highlighting individual artworks.

Admission and ticket notes

Admission is 7 PLN for general entry and 10 PLN for special ticketed exhibitions. Visitors can purchase tickets through the museum's online booking system or at the venue.

Mikrokosmos rzeczy: publiczne i prywatne życie kolekcji key exhibition facts

Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for Mikrokosmos rzeczy: publiczne i prywatne życie kolekcji at Museum of Warsaw in Warsaw

Venue
Museum of Warsaw
Current status
Completed
Exhibition schedule
Dec 6, 2017 – Mar 18, 2018
Artist line / attribution
Curator: Tomasz Fudala; Cooperation: dr Magdalena Wróblewska; Scientific Consultations: Barbara Hensel-Moszczyńska; Exhibition Design: Pracownia Macieja Siudy; Artworks: Zuzanna Ziółkowska/Hercberg.
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