History of World Exhibition
The National Museum of Australia’s History of the World in 100 Objects from the British Museum exhibition has been seen by more than 50000 visitors. Kate Spencer of Macquarie takes a photograph. Photo: Rohan Thomson.
Sally Pryor, History of the World in 100 Objects at National Museum of Australia in Canberra clocks 50,000 visitors, Sydney Morning Herald, 20 October 2016
Is it the bronze head of Augustus, or the Lewis Chessmen?
The two million-year-old stone tools or the counterfeit Chelsea football jersey?
There are so many objects upon which to fixate at the National Museum of Australia‘s current blockbuster – 100 to be precise, all sourced from the British Museum – that it’s impossible to name a drawcard. Or it could be that people just love a good list.
Whatever the reason, more than 50,000 people have already filed through the doors to see A History of the World in 100 Objects, and it’s only been open six weeks.
Museum director Mathew Trinca said the show was already well on its way to being the museum’s most popular exhibition in its own short history, with more than three months still left in its run.
He said the exhibition – which has already travelled to several countries, including Japan – had clearly hit its mark, with its eclectic mix of objects from across the globe.
“There’s a kind of discipline that comes from [having] 100 objects to tell this extraordinary span of human history, two million years, and people are stimulated to think, well … what else I would put in the show? I think the premise is really strong.”
“It’s absolutely playing into our fascination with lists, but in the context of seeing unbelievable things that comprise that list … a premise that’s really easy to grasp and quite delightful.”