Exposing the Catalogue

The decision whether or not to include labels (especially a 'name' one) with the digital representations of 'unknown' in this collection was a difficult one. Should an attempt be made to include a descriptive text which offers an interpretation based on curatorial knowledge, or should any display solicit requests for data from audiences instead?

Categories Used

It was intended that the schema of the original collections would be presented alongside this exhibitions display labels comparative purpose. Eg.

• Object Display Name
• Catalogue Name
• Object Description
• Catalogue Entry
• Catalogue Number

Knowing What We Don't Know

Should I have named the individual curator or institutional resource from where I sourced the background for some of the descriptive data? I spent a long time discussing the background details of some of these objects with experts in their fields but if I were to summarise their response it could simply have read 'we know a lot about stuff, but on this, we don't know'.

With regard to objects that are presented on display is it facetious to invent categories for classification or make behind the scene quantitative valuations based purely on deductive guesswork?

In order to reduce the repeated misidentification of objects, how useful would it be to store these items in a virtual box labelled ‘unknown’ and not open them up to the generation of new knowledge from audiences.

This exhibition does not seek to answer any of these questions, it most certainly does not suggest public 'tagging' or the application of SEO friendly keywords optimised for internet serach engines as the ultimate answer.

It simply suggests that by demonstrating humility and honesty and exposing our lack of knowledge we open up the possibility of acquiring more information.

And whilst this does risk criticism for those struggling to make sense of inherited collections with problematic or dubious legacies, to do otherwise would be the same as exhibiting items in a unopened box.

This exhibition also hopes to offer an insight into the many ongoing challenges faced in not only managing objects, but defining and acknowledging them in a meaningful, respectful and accurate manner.  

It seeks to acknowledge the importance of having access to a myriad of expert knowledge in the creation, preservation and dissemination of information about objects. One source is rarely ever enough.