Control – Attempting to Tame the World

An exhibit about the relationship between human beings and animals located in the venerable halls of the Historical Museum of Oslo

The story of mankind is often told as an inevitable development towards civilization, made possible by the ever-increasing control we take over animals and plants. However, is control really that civilized? When we look at how the world is evolving today with deforestation, endangered species and climate crisis, do we humans really have as much control as we like to think? The exhibit invites us to challenge the classic civilization narrative: what are the consequences of deeming the world as controlled by humans? Is modern civilization truly dependent on control and oppression? Are there other stories out there about people’s relationship with their surroundings? Is there a connection between this way of comprehending history and the tremendous challenges we face today?

The exhibit’s architecture gives structure to a complex concept and multifaceted narrative. An open-plan design having neither a beginning nor an end, the audience is invited to explore and discover as they wander through and around independent room elements. The rooms contain different themes, a vast selection of objects, and various multimedia content, offering many different ways one can interact with and experience objects.

ELEMENT employee Åsmund Steinsholm designed this exhibit as a side project.

Function

Exhibition display design

Client

KHM, University of Oslo

Location

Historical Museum, Oslo

Areal

240 m2

Status

Completed 2022

Collaborators