MIRROR: New views on photography | State Library Victoria
Great photography can hold up a mirror to the world and reflect our innermost thoughts and feelings. MIRROR: New views on photography showcases over 140 photographs from the State Collection, alongside creative responses from emerging and established Victorian storytellers to tell fascinating tales of Victoria through a contemporary lens.
Microsite here.
Press for 'Mirror: New views on photography': The Guardian, TimeOut, Australian Photography, Arts Hub.
EXPERIENCE DESIGN
IMMERSING VISITORS IN THE COLLECTION
The exhibition was designed with two main components.
MAIN SPACE
In the main gallery area, the visitors can experience the commissioned responses through large-scale projections and a spatial sound system.
THE CINEMA ROOMS
Inside these cube-shaped spaces, 140 photographs are projected onto two angled walls. On one side visitors see the photograph, while on the other they are shown how the picture is stored in the archive accompanied by its catalogue information.
CO-DESIGNING WITH COMMUNITIES
EMBEDDED AUSLAN INTERPRETATION
One of the respondents of the show was AUSLAN poet Walter Kadiki, who also contributed as a consultant for the inclussion of Auslan elements in the space.
Each response is projected with a full-body 1:1 Auslan interpretation embedded in the content.
The results not only make the space accessible for visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing but also results in a breathtaking performance by the deaf artists who were involved.
SENSORY MAPS AND SOCIAL SCRIPTS FOR NEURODIVERSE AUDIENCES
To ensure that the exhibition offers accessibility and safety to a broad spectrum of visitors, I collaborated with Amaze, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals on the neurodiverse spectrum. Together, we conducted a comprehensive review of the exhibition and crafted essential access materials, including sensory maps and social scripts.
For this endeavor, we introduced a novel methodology, departing from the conventional binary 'low or high sensory' approach commonly employed by museums. Instead, our approach is founded on three distinct levels of information, providing a more nuanced and inclusive experience for all.
EXHIBITION CREDITS
State Library Team
Curators: Linda Short, Jade Hadfield, Kate Rhodes
Exhibition Experience Design: Jorge Arreola
Exhibition Producer: Nickk Hertzog
Exhibitions Manager: Michelle Moo
External Contributors to this project
3D Design: Baracco+Wright
2-D Design: Ziga Testen
Video production: Silky Jazz / Antuong Ngyuen
Auslan consultant: Walter Kadiki