IT IS OPEN!
März 2011
IT IS OPEN!
»Auf Monate hin ausgebucht.«
Eröffnungsrede Archimedes
Jörg Schmidtsiefen
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure for me to stand here today and talk to you about “Re: generation”. This exhibition has been with us, at Archimedes, for a long time by now – in September 2008, we received – among many more pages on tender regulations – a good ten pages of content and the promise of 1,100 square metres of space. That autumn, we invented the first ideas for what are now 80 interactive exhibits and exhibition architecture.
At Archimedes, a good 40 people worked on the creation of Re: generation. In doing this, the target group was always in our central focus: How can we trigger the interest of 17 to 25 year olds? What is it that makes them tick? We quickly understood that the appearance of the gallery had to be sufficiently attractive and near the liking of the target group. We had to open the young people’s minds for the message of the exhibition. For that the overall design would have to play a major part in our efforts.
Our scenography designers created a unique architecture for the exhibition. Each section features its theme in a different way: from the smallest spaces in “ME” to the extensive “ME – WORLD”, the rooms reflect the gradual opening of the individual to being in relation to the world.
The graphic department developed an exceptional look for the gallery with clear definitions of all four different sections. The team opted for the main part to throw classic design norms over board and develop a free concept. In implementation this meant the use of over 100 different typefaces and numerous illustration techniques. It involved drawing, painting, daubing, smearing, cutting, scratching, crumpling, tearing, gluing, stamping and scanning. Go and see if you can find them all! The designers consciously avoided a uniform style – like in street art, a great variety was produced.
The other important part in getting to our audience was, of course, the ideas for the exhibits themselves. How do you bring knowledge to your audience without being condescending or patronising? Which form should an interactive take? How crazy can you dare to be?
During the phase of approval before the start of production, some exhibits changed almost weekly from their first idea to the final stage. For example, the Car of Love started as a one-armed bandit, which was supposed to show how fortune had thrown together different celebrities in relationships. We now can experience a totally changed exhibit with a slightly different content.
Other examples for exhibits, where we had to test for the desired effect very carefully, were the Cockroach Boots, the Beam of Fear, which due to the sounds from the inside is also fun if you remain outside, and one of my favourites: Felix the robot. This robot is able to communicate with you via mimics.
Another favourite of mine is a quite simple exhibit. The interaction is reduced to a minimum. At “Have you seen the Alien”, you have to lurk without making any sound or movement to wait for the appearance of a tiny and shy alien.
In the process of inventing appropriate and demanding exhibits, it sometimes took more work in convincing people in our own offices than here. And the Copernicus Science Centre kept on asking for more “loony” exhibits.
Finding and getting the content for those ‘loony’ exhibits was an international job. Our research team not only found articles and books online and in research libraries, but was in personal contact with scientists from at least three continents. Thinking of nothing bad, you come across a colleague on the phone: “Would you have MRI pictures of male and female brains during orgasm? --- Oh great! Can we have them?” – And then you start asking yourself just how that could have worked, technically… This was a university in Groningen, the Netherlands, just if you wonder, and compared to finding speakers of 50 different languages or someone to calculate a Polish ecological footprint, it was easy.
To conclude, let me say a few words about our cooperation with the Copernicus Science Centre: Without its team’s constant will to bring Re: generation forward, this exhibition wouldn’t be what it is now. Without the Science Centre’s team’s quick help in talking to Polish scientists, communicating with third parties, ability to find solutions for problems, welcoming new ideas and taking risks, we would not be able to open this exhibition today. Thank you, everyone, who worked together with us in the creation of this gallery. I really believe that Re: generation will have a great life and is in the right place here at the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw.
Downloads (Bilder)

Re: Generation 2011, Audiofile_Reportage_wdr_warschau
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Re: generation Opening März 2011, ...
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Re: generation 2011, Opening Team ...
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