Paradox of Exhibitions

What is the Paradox of Exhibitions?

Exhibitions display collection items that we otherwise preserve and keep away from the public.

Unless they are digital items, they have physical form.

We take them out of their drawers, their vaults, their root cellars and pantries.

We bring them into the light.

We breathe on them.

We prop them up at an angle.

We pull them tight around styrofoam forms.

And while we do this, what happens?

We are preserving them a little less.

In fact … we are destroying them a little.

The Paradox of Exhibitions:
When we exhibit the things we otherwise preserve, we destroy them a little.

Here’s the thing:
Our collections sacrifice themselves for us, so we can teach new generations the truths they confirm. Therefore we owe them two things:

1. to limit their suffering, and

2. to make their sacrifice fantastically worthwhile.

Warmly,
Jonathan