Traders: The East India Company & Asia
PermanentGallery Opened in the National Maritime Museum in Spring 2011
PermanentGallery Opened in the National Maritime Museum in Spring 2011
I spent a good deal of time during 2010-11 working on 2-Ddesign for Traders, which concept was developed in early 2010 by an external design company called At Large.Originally brought on board to oversee the artwork with At Larges’ own 2-Ddesigner, I was soon asked to perform more of a creative director role,reporting and presenting to a number of director-level employees within the museum. Traders, The East India Company and Asia was opened in July 2011, launched as our first major permanent gallery opening in tandem with the New Sammy Ofer Wing.
I was later tasked with designing all 2-D elements within the gallery, highlighting and complementing a spaciously designed exhibition solution within a small gallery. Apart from the rather political challenges of managing internal and external expectations amidst slightly differing views,the gallery itself needed a good touch of graphical elements to help tell one of the Museums most important stories.
One of the gallery highlights includes a 50-meter graphic visually depicting the East India Company’s effect on Britain. This was printed onto a metallic composite material, never before used within the National Maritime Museum. Another highlight is the Commodity Islands, which have been adorned with intricate eastern motifs printed with overlays onto Alucabond,giving a real sheen to the space. Over-sized quotes cut from bronze leap out from the wall to help weave the complicated political story.
My graphic statement was to use a sumptuous colour palette that was reminiscent of my previous exhibitions to deliver a rich depiction of the narrative. I worked closely with the rest of the core team to ensure the smooth running of the program, delivering the gallery on time and budget.Whilst this project was not the easiest to work on, it has remained the most satisfying and the results of which, I am proud of.
Credits
Principal Designers AtLarge
ClientNational Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Some FeaturedPhotography NMM Photo Studio
I was later tasked with designing all 2-D elements within the gallery, highlighting and complementing a spaciously designed exhibition solution within a small gallery. Apart from the rather political challenges of managing internal and external expectations amidst slightly differing views,the gallery itself needed a good touch of graphical elements to help tell one of the Museums most important stories.
One of the gallery highlights includes a 50-meter graphic visually depicting the East India Company’s effect on Britain. This was printed onto a metallic composite material, never before used within the National Maritime Museum. Another highlight is the Commodity Islands, which have been adorned with intricate eastern motifs printed with overlays onto Alucabond,giving a real sheen to the space. Over-sized quotes cut from bronze leap out from the wall to help weave the complicated political story.
My graphic statement was to use a sumptuous colour palette that was reminiscent of my previous exhibitions to deliver a rich depiction of the narrative. I worked closely with the rest of the core team to ensure the smooth running of the program, delivering the gallery on time and budget.Whilst this project was not the easiest to work on, it has remained the most satisfying and the results of which, I am proud of.
Credits
Principal Designers AtLarge
ClientNational Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Some FeaturedPhotography NMM Photo Studio
Five category 1panels run down the length of the gallery designed as book marks allowingvisitors instant recognition of the place, date and theme of the section theyare in.
Large complexcluster displays have been arranged on Island units, standing centre stage andsupported by graphics on surrounding walls. The easel on the left depicts themonsoon trade winds printed with a series of overlays direct to substrate toproduce a detailed colourful map whilst preserving the metallic qualities ofthe material underneath.
Colourful sub-sectionpanels mark the commodity zones, each with a carefully crafted motif taken fromobjects. On the far wall a hint of the large 50-meter graphic wall tells the visual story of the East IndiaCompany’s influence on Britain.
Metallic easelstructures have been adorned with rich hand crafted eastern motifs, which flowaround the space, printed directly to substrate with differing overlays.
The challenge in Traders was to balance a bright colour schemeamongst a series of island displays, large centrepiece objects and gilt frames.An important task was to ensure design motifs and interpretation was adequatelyspaced around paintings and other large objects.
A section of thecomplex elevation with linked artwork for each panel along the 50 meter Impacton Britain wall.
