Ever heard of the expression “to think outside the box”? At the museum that’s how you have to think all the time. The objects in our collections come in boxes – or crates – to keep them safe during transport. They would never be stored long term in these crates – fumes or pests might ruin what’s inside. But opening them on arrival is always a revelation. Long-hidden objects emerge into the half-light of the exhibition hall, reviving memory and asking silent questions: What am I? Where do I come from? How did I get here? Why have I been hidden for so long? What stories can I tell? The objects on display in a museum represent only a fraction of the total collection. So think of what you’re seeing here as the iceberg, not the tip ... in other words, think outside the box!
