Reopening Oct 25, 1., Heldenplatz, weltmuseumwien.atmuseum reopeningAround the World
in 14 Rooms
The Weltmuseum revises our approach to
ethnology while celebrating our diversity
by Christopher Puhm
As the world changes, so do our perspec-
tives; nothing seems as archaic as yester-
day’s attitudes. In our increasingly global-
ized world, this goes doubly for our
perception of different cultures: So when
the venerable Völkerkundemuseum
( Museum of Ethnology) temporarily closed
its doors at the Hofburg three years ago, the
intention wasn’t merely to remodel but to
lay an outdated way of understanding cul-
ture, history and tradition to rest.
There certainly was a lot to work with.
Containing 200,000 objects, 100,000 his-
torical photographs and 146,000 printed
works, the museum possesses an extensive
collection, including the only remaining
Aztec feather-work crown, originally
acquired from Archduke Ferdinand II of
Tyrol’s private collection and contro-
versially attributed by some experts to
Emperor Moctezuma II.
With limited space to house an ever-
expanding collection, however, a new con-
cept was needed to properly showcase their
artifacts in state-of-the-art facilities while
still opening up the museum to contempo-
rary perspectives. The resulting design, a
collaboration between the award-winning
Hoskins Architects and Ralph Appelbaum
Associates, emphasizes the interior’s com-
mon architectural accents yet allows every
display to express its distinct character, cre-
ating a more contextualized view of culture
and history.
Now renamed and reopening on Oct 25
with a spectacular world music show curat-
ed by renowned Austrian artist André Hell-
er, the new Weltmuseum Wien (World Mu-
seum Vienna) will present itself in an open
and inviting form: At the main entrance,
visitors will be greeted by a multipurpose
cube serving as a projection surface and
event space. Once inside, two vestibules will
draw you into the Säulenhalle (hall of col-
umns), a hub giving direct access to all spe-
cial exhibits, while the permanent collec-
tion can be found on the mezzanine.JOINING THE NARRATIVE
Replacing passive viewership with active
involvement, every room of their 14 perma-
nent galleries will feature a centerpiece ob-
ject introducing a theme, while the sur-
rounding interactive media displays
expand the narrative, portraying different
cultures and traditions within their context.
Daisychained together, the refurbished
halls explore the cultures of African nations
like Benin and Ethiopia, feudal life in Ja-
pan’s Edo period, or give historical snap-
shots of various Amerindian cultures.
Interestingly, the museum sheds asurprising light on the former Habsburg
monarchy’s efforts to build their ethno-
graphic collections. With no overseas colo-
nies, the empire relied on ambitious expedi-
tions by artifact-obsessed nobles and
adventurous amateur explorers who trav-
eled the world in pursuit of ethnographic
specimens to bring back home. In their per-
manent “Collecting Craze” exhibition, visi-
tors can take a closer look at three Habsburg
archdukes’ voyages spanning the globe.
Supporting the permanent collection are
unusual seasonal exhibits exploring a wide
spectrum of contemporary issues: For start-
ers, “Sharing Stories: Speaking Objects”
and “Pop-Up World: Narratives” reflects on
different aspects of the relationship be-
tween object and narrative, while Dejan
Kaludjerović’s “Conversations” looks into
the “origins of ideological, philosophical
and political thinking” through the eyes of
children he interviewed. Rajkamal Kahlon’s
“Staying with Trouble” examines, challeng-
es and alters stereotypes created by ethno-
graphic photography and “The Master Nar-
rative” by Lisl Ponger muses on the lasting
impact of colonialism and the very nature
of ethnological museums.
Wandering around the exhibitions sur-
rounding the Säulenhalle, it quickly be-
comes clear that it’s not just curios or an up-
dated worldview on display here. By
building a framework for the rich heritage
of humanity, the Weltmuseum has created
a common narrative for us all.PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT:: ARGE RALPH APPELBAUM ASSOCIATES / HOSKINS ARCHITECTS, SERGEY PONOMAREV, FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE ALBERTINA MUSEUM, VIENNA.