Becoming One With The Art
On an unexpected trip to the Museum of Natural History, I found myself wondering if I would find anything of interest. I am not a huge fan of history. As I wandered through the museum floors searching for something to grab my attention, I stumbled upon a dark room where many people were gathered. I had remembered this exact room on my many trips to the Museum of Natural History with my classmates. This time, however, the room seemed different. I had begun to appreciate in a different way. Instead of just viewing the piece, I felt like I was a part of it.
The Milstein Hall of Ocean is a recreation of the open water. Behind windows are exhibits featuring life size replicas of the animals that live in the sea. Staring into these windows, I started to feel as if I were in the ocean right next to these creatures. I had been to the Museum of Natural History many times and never noticed this. The exhibits seemed so real and I felt like I was in their environment. The whole design of the room created an aura and presented a sense of realism. I felt that the darkness and size of the room really captured the feel of the deep ocean.
I had never realized that museums took a lot of effort to present their work in a meaningful way. It isn’t about putting pieces together. It involves making connections to create an effect that they want the audience to experience. Standing in the middle of the room, hearing the sounds of the rippling water, I felt like I was a part of the art.
Aside from all the pieces behind the clear plastic was a huge flat screen television to add to the overall effect of the exhibit. Actual footage of an underwater exhibition was playing continuously on the screen. We were the only teenagers surrounded by a group of five year olds. That, however, did not change my experience. I was swimming with the fishes. I was swerving with every angle change as if I were the person on this exhibition. The beauty of the ocean and was clearly represented through this footage. The small children around us, however, were not focused on the beauty of the artwork that was presented, but were mesmerized by the creatures that were encountered. When I was there age, I felt the same way. I didn’t not care or appreciate how the work was presented.
Now, as a college freshman and someone who has gone through months of appreciating different types of artwork, I now look at the Museum of Natural History as a home to natural beauty and recreation of nature. No matter how old you are you will be able to find an appreciation for the Museum of Natural History even if it isn’t the same type of appreciation experienced by the person next to you or the last time you visited. My trip to the Museum of Natural History allowed me to experience art in a different way and realize that as I mature, I start to appreciate and look at things
October 30th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Hey Eilene. Wow, even though we went to the museum together with others, I still didnt know you were going to write about the Milstein Hall of Ocean as well. hahaha, yeah we teenagers need to be trained in the arts in order to fully appreciate something that we took for granted as children. It’s how you associated urself with the environment in the Hall of Ocean. lol, ur experience was kinda similar to mind. Great minds think alike, dont you think so? hahah
October 31st, 2007 at 10:27 am
Hehe, that’s my favorite room in the museum. =) The giant whale is so cool. The way they made the animals appear underwater was very realistic. Still, I think I prefer going to the aquarium with real fishes. xD
November 3rd, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Your comments about how you looked at the same piece differently when you were younger reminded me of the idea that you may not look at the artwork in the same way- there are other factors, besides the art itself, that may affect the way you look at it. Like you said, one may discover a deeper understanding as one gets older.