cabinets of curiosity

The creation of this collection was inspired by a phenomenon called ‘Cabinets of Curiosity’: private collections from 1600-1800 that could be seen as the predecessors of our modern museums. These collections showcased a wide variety of rare and curious objects, varying from specimens in jars and medical equipment to butterflies, shells and artwork. The collections were designed to spark a sense of wonder in their viewers and to encourage them to think by creating juxtapositions of unexpected objects. As the University’s hand printing facilities have remained shut throughout the full length of this project, I solely used digital printing methods capturing a watercolour quality in my designs. Every element that is incorporated in my designs was drawn or painted analogically by hand, looking at photography from a visit to the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow, UK. This museum has evolved out of a 1600s private collection.