Ice Age Art Now - British Museum Partnership Exhibition
Bradford

GuM delivered 3D, 2D and lighting design, taking inspiration from the ‘white box’ exhibition format synonymous with contemporary art display. GuM’s design transformed the decorative Bracewell Smith Hall into a neutral and distraction-free volume, which would allow audiences to focus on the remarkable artworks.

Working resourcefully with the existing infrastructure of the space, GuM designing angled plinths in response to the architecture of the hall, which simultaneously distributed power, defined thematic zones and spotlighted star objects, such as the iconic Swimming Reindeer; allowing these objects to be viewed in the round.

We worked closely with the client team to deliver bespoke display cases for fragile and valuable artefacts, such as Volgu – a thin finely worked leaf-shaped flint. Display case layouts were highly considered with subtle tones for case linings and graphic substrates selected in careful response to the objects. The relationship between objects, text and images was developed rigorously through sampling and 1:1 testing.'

The visitor journey culminates in an immersive ‘Cave Experience’. GuM designed a ‘cave fragment’ with rockwork specialists, to reference the expansive limestone caves of the Ice Age. In collaboration with software and hardware consultants, the team delivered a mesmerising large-scale projection of animated cave art, which was cast onto the uneven, rock-like surface.