This exhibition focuses on the transmission of stories and knowledge about people and things in the past. Objects that a new generation of young people do not recognise. Objects that speak to the imagination and knowledge that has been passed on orally, so that it may have been distorted or open to interpretation. In this way, the image of a thing, place or person may eventually have undergone a change.

What do I see?

What goes on in your mind when you look at an object? This is a fascinating process for every museum visitor. What kind of thing is it? What was it used for? How was it made? Why is it here in this museum, in this province? Or for the more poetic visitor: what effect does the object have on you? Does it evoke memories, new images, smells or dreams? Does it inform you or does it raise more questions? Is the observation peppered with homesickness or with a future vision?

Fascination

The Hague-based design collective Das Leben am Haverkamp is fascinated by interpreting local objects in the Zeeuws Museum’s collection of regional costume and household objects. These objects have provided the inspiration for a new collection of clothes, accessories and other items. Anouk van Klaveren, Dewi Bekker, Christa van der Meer and Gino Anthonisse provide visitors to the museum with a challenge in the form of a game of Chinese whispers: ‘Give us your description of forty randomly selected objects and we will give you our interpretation.’

New interpretation

Usually the interpretation happens after seeing an item in the collection. Now, this observation is the starting point for a new interpretation. Through this game, Das Leben am Haverkamp creates a bridge between past and future, between knowledge and fantasy, between your image of something and that of someone else.