Design process in collaboration with archaeology: contemporary exhibition of a Hellenistic statue

Abstract

Archaeological artefacts in museums serve as artistic displays and provide visitors with insights into the historical context of their discovery. Some finds offer direct, observable information, while others convey more subtle, context-dependent representations, such as iconography. This study focuses on identifying the iconography of a recently discovered Hellenistic statue through an analysis of archaeological literature. The gathered information was then used to evaluate the effectiveness of the display of similar statues in museums. Key factors considered included appropriate chronological placement, spatial organization of the surrounding environment, emphasis on hierarchy, visibility from all angles, clarity of the iconographic elements, and the inclusion of explanatory text. Based on these criteria, several display design alternatives were proposed, with one selected and implemented for the exhibition of the newly unearthed statue. The effectiveness of the approach was validated through the assembly, and the adaptability of the method to similar exhibition design scenarios was discussed.