This exhibition immerses the visitor to the Grainger Museum in Percy Grainger's life and times, illustrating his 'cosmopolitan and universalist outlook on music'. Central to Grainger's curatorial approach were his 'Museum Legends'—didactic panels aimed at offering deeper insights into his musical philosophy and the context of his collection. These panels cover a diverse range of topics, from his family history to the lives and works of his contemporaries in music, literature, and art. Through them, visitors can glean a snapshot of the musical and cultural landscape of the early twentieth century. A highlight of the exhibition is the reintroduction of the 'London Room', a recreation of the drawing room from Grainger's London home where he lived with his mother, Rose, during a pivotal period in his career. This installation, reinterpreted today, showcases not only Grainger's domestic space but also offers a glimpse into Rose's influence on his life and artistic development.
NTRO Output Type
- Curated Exhibition, Event or Festival
NTRO Output Category
- Curated Exhibition, Event or Festival : Exhibition/event
Place
Melbourne, AustraliaVenue
Grainger Museum, University of MelbourneStart Date
2024-02-26End Date
2025-12-31Medium
archival documents, photographs, collection objects, musical instrumentsResearch Statement
This project contributes to both musicological and museological reserach by addressing our understanding of Australian composer and autobiographical museum founder Percy Grainger's original curatorial intent. The exhibition aims to explore the foundational phase of the museum's history.
The exhibition contributes new knowledge by interrogating Grainger's 'Museum Legend' panels in dialogue with other collection objects, his curatorial writings, and biography. It contributes to understandings of material culture and history, particularly though the reinstallation of the 'London Room' in the tradition of an historic house museum, and shifts understandings of immersive historical museum curation and perceptions of Grainger's musical and personal legacy.
The exhibition actively contributes to the Museums & Collections department's program of academic engagement, becoming an integral part of the Grainger Museum's teaching and learning activities. Over 3000 undergraduate and graduate students from a diverse range of disciplines have engaged or worked with the exhibition over 2024. It has also contributed to the Grainger Museum's expanded public programming, increasing public visitation to the museum during public opening hours by 40% since the exhibition opened.Size or Duration of Work
Exhibition c. 2 yearsAffiliation
Sarah Kirby, University of Melbourne
