As part of the Skabt af tiden (Shaped by time) exhibition in the prehistory galleries at Denmark’s National Museum, 28 contemporary artists were asked to create works to go in the gallery, responding to the objects and displays.
Pat Hadley picks as stand out works the ‘extra’ captions provided by author, poet and journalist Merete Pryds Helle. Here is her caption on Mesolithic harpoon points in the National Museum of Denmark
Fishing spear
This fishing spear was used by fishermen Skæl and Søle one May morning in the year of 8232 BCE to catch a tuna fish off the coast of Fænø. In view of the fact that rice was not yet grown in the region, Søle was forced to produce their tuna sushi exclusively using wild grains and the bitter horseradish that Fænø remains famous for. It is possible to order a meal in Copenhagen’s restaurant Noma based entirely on Søle’s original recipe.
These captions brilliantly satirise both the tone, content and form of the original captions and are far more subversive than most of the visual or sculptural works. In the original captions, the museum has deliberately decided not to separate basic empirical facts (where something was found, what material it is) from more interpretive statements. One caption, under a case of antler tools and objects, is a particularly clear example:
Deer antler – a magical material
Antlers are symbols of power. The stags shed them every spring to grow a new and larger set. Stag antlers in the hunters’ graves show that the material was ascribed magical properties. Men’s weapons like axes were made of antler and the material was used for shafts, harpoons etc. Antlers shed in the woods were also used.
[Note this is a genuine caption not a satirical one! - MegP Ed]
Though they are all placed on the outside of cases, the ‘extra’ captions are in the same typeface as the originals and a little surreptitious watching made it clear that many visitors were unaware that they were not official at first. However, as incredulity kicked in many visitors reacted in similar ways: at first laughing at the captions, then at their own credulity and then re-engaging with the original captions in a far more critical and active manner.
Sadly, the Skabt af tiden captions were removed on the 1st October 2012. I think they should have kept them.
Pat Hadley writes more about Engagement, 'Punctum' and 'Verfremdungseffekt' in heritage presentation at his blog here
http://pathadley.wordpress.com/2012/10/05/engagement-through-estrangement/
Something is not right. This message is just to keep things from messing up down the road