News: World So Obscured

Artwork by: Mani Kambo, Passage (2020) Moving Image,
Shell of a Nautilus courtesy of the Natural History Collection at the GNM: Hancock

A new online exhibition created by master students on the Art Museum and Gallery Studies programme at Newcastle University, The Great North Museum: Hancock and local artists from The NewBridge Project is now available online. World So Obscured explores the relationship between natural history and contemporary artwork and features objects that have never been on display in the Great North Museum alongside contemporary artworks.

Birthed as a digital alternative to a physical showcase, the exhibition considers the differences between the virtual world and reality and draws connections between historical objects from The Great North Museum’s collection and artwork from local artists and demonstrates.

Newcastle University lecturer Dr. Gayle Meikle adds, “Having only six weeks to respond to the collection, research, and select artist works and develop an online exhibition, the students needed to hit the ground running. As a result, they have produced something remarkable that is playful and sensitive to the GNM Natural History collection and the artworks they have paired the objects with. Given the challenges the pandemic has brought to the learning environment, I am amazed at what they have achieved. I am cheered by their tenacious talents. Well done!”

To check out the exhibition, visit the website here.