Museum objects travelling in a caravan
MúzeumCafé 26.
Every day we place in glass cases objects associated with mobility – a mobile phone holder in the shape of a rubber ring; a motorist’s silicon coin holder; a clever device to help women have a pee while standing; a solar-powered amorous gift in the form of a rabbit. Precisely what is today’s everyday object? We won’t disclose everything we did but we can say our role was to facilitate a process, not specifically directing but rather leading in a playful way. It was one of our favourite activities, undertaken with Zsófi Frazon, ethnographer and museologist of EtnoMobil 2.0. Where and when? The locations and times changed continuously. What was permanent was the Museum of Ethnography’s Demonstration Item No. 1, a caravan named Lola Tabbert with its travelling 25 objects and associated history. EtnoMobil 2.0 exhibition, photo workshop and archive is Hungary’s smallest and most mobile exhibition, which began a country-wide tour in mid July. At the stations of the journey – summer festivals, museum gardens, and other locations – we set up the caravan before a curious public. Is it for donating blood? A stall selling snacks? Let’s take a closer look! EtnoMobil 2.0 was this year’s project of the Museum of Ethnography in the framework of the MaDok programme, involving the participation of 17 museums. A joint exhibition was created with the participants’ objects on the theme of mobility, movement and the many connections of culture based on contemporary objects and personal histories. In connection with the theme of mobility the most obvious ‘object’ was the caravan itself, which enabled us to freely roam the country. In contrast with the usual pattern, visitors didn’t come to us, we went to them. The key of the caravan’s educational adventure was flexibility. We never knew what to expect or anticipated what was in store for us.