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The Museum of Tourists

September 4, 2020

Note: This post is part of my “Museums Project“, a collection of 200+ high-concept ideas for museums.

When I go to a museum why am I looking at all these paintings of people I don’t know? Why are these paintings not of me? Why are the sculptures not of me? The contemporary art? Why isn’t it some wonderfully abstract depiction of me? 

People love selfies and go to places to make selfies and humans have an inherent implicit egotism so why not just put a bunch of art on the wall that is me and then that will be the best museum ever for me?

Because that’s not so great for you. (Though I don’t see why not).

Also, being their only patron, I wouldn’t want to have to go there every day so that they can afford to keep the lights on. I’ve got me stuff to do in the real world.

So a museum about me (unless I’m famous, which I’m not) is not a super great investment for anyone. 

So what if we made it about you? But you’re not famous either? Now we’ve doubled the losses. 

But what if we combined forces and the same museum was all about me and all about you? 

When you go, it’s about you. When I go, it’s about me.

When you arrive at this museum, your photo is taken in front of a green screen. Perhaps your photo is taken in various poses.  

You’re invited in to the stark white space and it looks like a typical art (* could be other types) museum. Stuff on the wall. Stuff on pedestals. Bunch of stuff laying on the floor in a disheveled pile.

You walk up to the first oil painting. It’s old and in an oversized frame, about 50” tall. It depicts a few overly-dressed people eating dinner in a severly underlit room. One of the faces looks familiar. It’s your face! How is this possible? How did they know you owned a ruff!

As you stare, the image begins to fade (* or doesn’t and you walk away). The next person looks up to see the painting of you and exclaims “it’s my photo!”. You think to yourself: No way, that was me.

Through the magic of technology you appear in: Sketches. Sculpture. Mixed Media. Architectural Pieces. Maps. Stone Carvings. Small Things in Glass Cabinets. Ancient Pottery. Art from every age and style. Much of it actual physical art.

Through the magic of technology you are descending a staircase in the buff.

Perhaps even the restroom has a photo of you on the door. 

The gift shop features many items with your image. At the entrance is a coin stretching machine that imprints your face upon a penny.

MISC

Not all of these ideas are possible – currently. But since people generally aren’t allowed to touch art, much of it could probably be accomplished through clever projections and printers. Knowing who is in front of which art could be done with some kind of NFC. Ideally when you walk up to iech piece it *already* looks like you, because that gives you the feeling that it has been there all along. (As opposed to changing when you step up to it).

How should couples and groups be managed? Certainly people want to visit the museum with whom they came with. How might this be possible?

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Posted Under: Experience Design Tags: #ExperienceIdeas, #Museums, #TheMuseumsProject

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