The coronavirus pandemic is a monumental event in our lives; consequently, it will certainly have its own place in history. Several museums around the world are already starting to consider the best way to document this significant chapter of mankind’s experience for future generations.
The Wien Museum, for instance, initiated the Corona Collection Project, seeking objects that will narrate the story of the pandemic in Vienna. This project aims to respond to the question, “How will we reflect on this time in the coming years, decades, and centuries?” As of now, the project has received over 2000 photo submissions – images of signs, masks, and bottles of disinfectant. After the social distancing measures conclude, all these items will be collected and will become integral parts of the museum’s collection.
The Director of the Wien Museum, Matt Bunzl, remarked that his favorite item among the numerous submissions is the crocheted plushie of the coronavirus molecule. “I find it extremely interesting from a cultural and historical perspective,” he noted. “It illustrates that we live in an age where we all possess at least a rudimentary understanding of molecular biology. This signifies a remarkable advancement; during epidemics like the plague and cholera, such pathogens could neither be envisioned nor illustrated.”
London’s V&A Museum has also launched a similar initiative named Pandemic Objects. Its objective is to reflect on the new significance that everyday items have assumed during the coronavirus outbreak. The museum notes that “a host of often-overlooked objects are suddenly charged with new urgency.” Currently, the project concentrates on three key topics – streaming services, Google Street View, and home-made signs.
Of particular interest to the V&A are the home-made signs, prompting the museum to actively seek out submissions created during the outbreak. “These signs have become a key means for us to convey messages to the outside world during the lockdown,” stated the V&A, indicating plans to incorporate them into their permanent collection after a thorough evaluation from curators.
In addition, several other museums, such as the Cologne Museum in Germany and the Smithsonian Museum in the United States, have initiated similar projects. For those interested in discovering more about these initiatives, feel free to visit their official websites. The links for the Corona Collection Project and the Pandemic Objects are available for additional exploration: here and here.
