VIRTUAL: Prague Heritages
Abstract
Every morning, the Neanderthal Museum in Mettmann is filled with children and teenagers activating the museum spaces, accessing a constantly updated vision of human evolution through multisensory experiences. We can analyse it as an expanded installation projecting beyond the walls into the Neander Valley. From this physical and historical site, the Museum creates its narrative and opens it up to reflect on shared spaces. The focus of the exhibition is not on the archaeological heritage, but on the intangible heritage. It invites the visitor to relate the knowledge of the past to current issues such as migration, climate change, technology, gender roles, living together and the care of ecosystems. To this end, the museographic and curatorial proposal is based on the idea that with the current scientific knowledge, the human family tree presents itself more as a river, with branches and new arms (Menschenstrom). This concept functions as a ritornello that allows the interconnection of the different layers that shape the discourse of the museum. We will analyse the interrelationship between design, architecture, storytelling, dioramas and panoramas, and how they in turn generate assemblages (agencement) which enables immersion in the discourse. For this purpose, sculptures made by paleoartist whit scientific background have a prominent place in the exhibition, giving body and voice for information that would otherwise be complex and dry for the viewer. These characters that we find in the Neanderthal Museum lead us through a choreography of discoveries where we encounter recognisable stories and faces.
Ph.D. from Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona and Alma Mater Università di Bologna (DAMS). Professor at San Vicente Mártir Catholic University of Valencia, Spain. Research in the field of cultural studies, applying ecological thinking to the reflection on the body and the construction of shared space. Main concepts of my research include choreography, performativity, gesture and image in relation to body theory and history of performing arts.
Concepción Ros Ros: PhD in pedagogy, expert in didactics of physical activity and values education. Senior researcher in the GIEPAFS group at the UCV. She is currently conducting research on image analysis in different environments and works in the design, development and application of e-learning teaching and learning platforms. Responsible for the research project “Gender and body stereotypes and Neanderthal identification in the educational field”.
Laura Ruiz Sanchis: PhD in Physical Activity. Professor at the Universidad Católica San Vicente Mártir, Valencia, Spain. Specialist in didactics and new technologies. She is currently carrying out a research project on the analysis of images in different environments. She works in the research and development of applications in the educational field.