Abstract
Distinguished American Indian scholar Robin Wall Kimmerer argues that language is the heart of culture (Kimmerer 2013). However, the displays of archaeological objects in most established museums are routinely aestheticized according to the canons and dominant categorizations of the Western perspectives as decorative arts. To challenge the “aesthetic-anthropological objects system of the West” that was constructed by its own narrative, an experimental exhibition with the theme on the reflection of Kimmerer’s critical text – Braiding Sweetgrass, Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants is created through the collaboration between faculty and students at School of Critical Cultural Studies and School of Art. This paper showcases the method of developing alternative narratives of exhibition design to emphasize on the historical context and cultural norms of the Native Nations, as well as interpretive language of the Narrative rooted in their mythology that reflected their unique ontology, epistemology, and value system, both metaphorically and factually. This project utilizes historical interpretive method in creating exhibition images, exhibition labels, and textual images. Both visual and textual narratives are experimented in respect of the language derived from Kimmerer’s text. This exhibition, although limited in the setting of a university gallery, inspires us to project a critical vision for the future of museum narratives as a paradigm shift.
Presenters
Yong HuangAssociate Professor, Architecture, Bowling Green State University, Ohio, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2026 Special Focus—The Future of Museum Narratives
KEYWORDS
Language, Culture, Ontology, Epistomology, Mythology, Narratives
