Back to the Future
Curation and Design of an Interactive Exhibition
Through an Archival Lens
Stories of archives are richly peppered with as many anecdotes of euphoric discoveries as disappointing leads.
Documents, images, oral histories, objects, and now digital files and YouTube links. These bits of history can seem like junk to the unpracticed eye. However for an archivist they offer insights into the identity and culture of an organization. Our task as curators and designers for ‘Back to the Future’ was not only to make the stories in the archives alive – but to bring to the forefront the stories of archivists themselves, to capture the excitement and the pitfalls of an itinerant crusade to piece together fragments of history and identity
In order to give voices to these stories, objects and people, B2F uses many diverse tools: blending and augmenting the physical with the digital using film clips next to objects; a recreation of the Vikhroli township with stations with Kindle screens featuring black and white photographs and oral histories; a key that triggers a film on the manufacture of locks in one of the plants. These embodied experiences allow visitors to curate their own experiences and dip into parts of history that interest them.
An interactive installation using a wheel from a Godrej safe. Visitors are prompted to align the segments of a wheel to commitments that Godrej had made (towards the nation, its people, the earth, self sustainability and quality) in its early years. By aligning the wheel correctly archival documents that demonstrate these commitments are triggered onto connected digital screens.
Warning, a blast from the past. A Video Booth that plays videos and advertisement films from the 6os. The booth was custom made at the Godrej heavy engineering plants for the exhibition using existing designs.
A passing statement, such as “kuch pada hain Lal Bagh mein”, (there is something in Lal Bagh), that offered the promise of archival treasures and prompted the lifting up of creaky shutters in dusty, cobwebbed shed. This anescdote was made the focus for one of the ‘Archive Stories’ that are displayed as graphic books on laddered panels with QR code links to online content. The discovery of other artefacts such as a corporate film from the 1960s long thought to be lost forever, provide fodder for other stories.
From paper to digital, from static to fluid, with design, sound, and smell (which as we know, is a memory-trigger like no other), we recreate some documents, fragrances, sounds and even a soap from the early 1900s.
A 15th century Hero Stone and Sati Stone, a ballot box from the first Indian election, the first Indian Typewriter, and an engine built for aerospace, and early 1900s patent document – B2F curates objects and documents, cutting through centuries of record keeping!
All these are used to breathe life into otherwise inanimate records. The aim is to encourage a thoughtful pause, excite recognition or meaningful nostalgia to the many people who have been part of the Godrej family as employees, founders, as well as customers and associates.
The Vikhroli, campus map recreated graphically on the floor. Visitors can walk on the map – an embodied experience into a period of history with digital screens at ‘stations’ that store archival photos and oral history recordings.
A selfie photo booth, where you can put yourself back into the 70s – and become a model if you wish!
Scope
Research and Curation | Exhibition and Interactive Design | Copywriting
Team
Sarita Sundar, Georgie Paul, Savithri M, Ruchika Chanana, Priyanka Borar