Collecting
A major component of Stealing Culture is analyzing how objects are collected. However, to understand the “how,” we need to examine the “why.”
When thinking about why collectors collect, the five-year-old child scenario is key. Ask any five-year-old to empty their pockets and you might find objects like a rock, a piece of a toy, a quarter, a sticker, or anything small enough to fit in the child’s hand and pocket. To you, these objects seem mundane or something to throw away. But, to the child, these are treasures with a story. That kid can tell you where the rock came from, what the broken toy was, who gave them the quarter, and why they earned the sticker. The need to collect is innate. And, not just in humans, but, we see birds, rodents and other animals collecting objects in their nests, dens, and other places they live. However, it is human nature to create a story that builds a connection to the object.
In the 16th century, collectors, human in this case, began to display their collections creating Kunstkammer, or cabinets of curiosities. These collections were similar to the five-year-old child’s treasures, as they were eclectic and encyclopedic in nature. They consisted of objects that piqued that collector’s interest, usually rare and unusual specimens ranging from scientific wonders to examples of natural history to cultural objects from faraway lands to fine art to religious objects. By displaying the objects in “wonder rooms,” the collector could not only show-off their collection, but, they created a platform to tell the story of the objects. Perhaps they would group a selection of objects collected during travels together or group all objects with feathers together. The resulting story was not the story of the object but the story of the collector. An important fact when looking at collections.
Moreover, consider not only the “why” but the “who.” In this case, the “wonder rooms” were created by wealthy for the enjoyment of the wealthy. The Sir John Soane’s Museum in London is the perfect, although exaggerated, example of a cabinet of curiosity. We use the term exaggerated because Soane essentially lived in the “wonder room,” as the entire house is filled from top to bottom with objects ranging from Ancient Egypt antiquities and Roman sculpture to fine art paintings from his time period. Stepping into the museum, it is easy to imagine Soane showing off his treasures and telling stories to his well-to-do guests of how he was able to acquire such unique objects.
The inherent need to collect means taking something from somewhere or someone and removing it from its intended context. It means seizing possession of something that was not yours for your enjoyment, interest, and curiosity. Often, it means stealing.
As humans, we want to own things that pique our curiosity, that make us think, that make us use our imagination. Look around your home or office, what have you collected and placed on a shelf? How have you arranged it? What story do these objects tell about you?
Objects on view at the Sanquhar Tolbooth Museum, Scotland, 2017 (Photo courtesy of Nicole Crawford)