Re-Imagining Challenging History conference – day two
1 July 2016
Day two of the Re-Imagining Challenging History conference began with artist and producer David Gunn’s ‘Museums of Lies and Secrets’ keynote speech.
David began by detailing the ‘Museum of Lies’, a creative project exploring new forms of public participation and engagement with museum collections.
The work was developed in collaboration with a small group of school children who explored a range of National Museum Wales sites and collections. The group then created a range of fictional stories using museum objects. Their exhibition shared these fictions alongside the actual museum objects that inspired them.
Fascinating discussion of the creative potential of lies, esp. to reset the power dynamics when working with participants. #challhist
— Catherine Paula Han (@CatherellaH) June 30, 2016
The museum of lies enabled young people to break down the hierarchies of the formality and power of traditional museum displays #challhist
— Charlotte Morgan (@_charmorgan) June 30, 2016
The keynote also noted the speaker’s chance breakthrough when the absence of dialog opened new channels of communication during his time working with musicians in Cambodia.
The day also featured a talk by Stephen Bourne titled ‘Black Poppies’ about Britain’s black community during the First World War and how despite being discouraged from serving in the British Army during the war, men managed to join all branches of the armed forces.
Who should tell the stories of black service people? Racist or a challenge to racism that aithor Bourne (Black poppies) is white? #challhist
— Jane Henderson (@LJaneHenderson) June 30, 2016
Fascinating talk by Stephen Bourne at #ChallHist about Britain's black community in FWW. Hidden histories & unheard voices must be told.
— Victoria Rogers (@vicincardiff) June 30, 2016
The day also saw a dozen papers presented and a series of Lightning talks by Alex Drago from Aston University, Iwan Powers-Jones from the National Trust for Scotland and Kayte McSweeney from the British Museum.
