The days of exclusive museum collections are coming to an end. Collaborations between organisations who function worlds apart are making museums accessible across the world. Touring exhibitions are certainly not a new concept, but the way that art is shared has changed drastically throughout history. Of course, the Covid-19 pandemic has only accelerated these adaptations.
Whether the magic happens onsite or online, the need for translation and communication will never disappear. Websites and panels alike can be offered in a way that their audiences will understand and connect with.
At Art & Culture Translated we have worked hand-in-hand with organisations worldwide to craft and adapt touring exhibitions; from catalogues, to exhibition materials, to marketing kits. Our focus within the museum and culture niche has always been to provide accessibility to knowledge and experiences that might not be available locally.
Painters Of Pompeii
Many people do not have the funds or means to travel from Oklahoma to Naples, but when The Painters of Pompeii traveled to Oklahoma, there was no need for a plane ticket.
Translated from Italian to English, this collaboration featured colourful frescoes that were painted on the walls of buildings in Pompeii and Herculaneum, which were devastated during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE. Although the famous cities are on most people's bucket lists, few are actually able to visit Pompeii in their lifetime. For many, this exhibit was a teleportation device into a short, but valuable, ancient Roman experience.
An Added Challenge
For audiences with only a surface-level knowledge of history/art, highly technical academic texts can be difficult to understand, even when reading in their native tongue.
There is an added challenge, often encountered with touring exhibitions, when you are communicating those technicalities across multiple languages. It is good practice for translation clients to consider their target audience when requesting adaptations to the text. What are their cultural backgrounds? Their academic level? The depth and syntax of the texts should match accordingly.
Picasso. Figures
Audiences might not be familiar with the culture of the touring exhibition's birthplace, so they might require a more comprehensive explanation. Not just "What is this painting about?" but also "Why is this painting significant?".
Picasso has said it himself; artists are largely impacted by their world around them.
"What do you think an artist is? An imbecile who only has eyes if he's a painter, ears if he's a musician, or a lyre in every chamber of his heart if he's a poet – or even, if he's a boxer, only some muscles? Quite the contrary, he is at the same time a political being constantly alert to the horrifying, passionate or pleasing events in the world, shaping himself completely in their image."
- Pablo Picasso
So, how can we fully understand Picasso's artwork without also looking at the parallel ebbs and flows of significant events happening at the time?
In the context of this exhibit, the European Citizens visiting in Paris would probably have a higher understanding of French/Spanish/European history, but the Canadians and Americans viewing the traveling exhibition might need more context on how historic events shaped Picasso's passions.
What's Next?
The world is getting smaller, and exhibitions are getting bigger. We are moving towards a more collaborative, accessible, and creative system of sharing art and knowledge. Curious about where the future of touring exhibition is heading? Stay tuned for our next blog!
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