Mayas, Revelación de un tiempo sin fin.
Working together with INAH specialists, siete|media developed five interactive installations to give context to the pieces in a memorable exhibition.
The exhibition showcased a comprehensive collection of 479 artworks, many of which were shown to the public for the first time. Spanning from the Early Preclassic period to the present, the exhibition provided a representative overview of the cultural development within the showcased area. The display was held at Mexico City's National Palace Gallery. Organized by the Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), in collaboration with the National Council for Culture and the Arts, and the National Palace, the exhibit was open to the public from December 2013-April 2014. The collection consisted of various items including urns, censers, ceramics, stelae, lintels, jade funerary masks, and two burials with their offerings. Additionally, there were an atrial cross, huipiles, and other objects that referenced the colonial and contemporary eras.The pieces were arranged thematically to show, in addition to their aesthetic value, the ways of life, socio-political organization, historical awareness, religiosity, and cosmo-vision of the Maya.
The challenge of this project was generating simplified and minimalistic language for the electronics used to maintain a harmonious balance between the visual aids and the exhibited artworks.
The first installation was a timeline explaining the development of the Maya from 2500 BC to 1550 AD. The second, a map showing the extent of the "Maya Nation”. The third installation consisted of four interactive models that showcased the scale and layout of the ancient cities of Copan, Pakal, Palenque, and Chichen Itza. We chose the Stela of the Lord of Machaquilá as the foundation for our fourth interactive, exploring the topic of Glífica. Finally, we designed an interactive system to collect visitor opinions, enabling the INAH to consider public feedback for future exhibitions. By focusing on simplicity and solidity in the design of the interactive tools for the exhibition, we ensured an efficient and smooth experience for the large number of visitors, approximately 280,000 people. This allowed us to accommodate the high rate of visits without compromising the functionality and effectiveness of the installations. We carried out this project with the magnificent collaboration of Anni Garza and Daniel Mujica.
Brazil
In 2014, our artwork "MAYAS: REVELAÇÃO DE UM TEMPO SEM FIM" was included in an exhibition that traveled to São Paulo. The exhibition took place in the Oca Museum, a stunning venue designed by Oscar Niemeyer. The timing of the exhibition coincided with the excitement of the Soccer World Cup that year, adding to the cultural significance of the event.
China
In November 2014, 238 pieces traveled to the city of Beijing to be presented at the impressive National Museum of China. We had the opportunity to work directly with the museum's museography team to prepare the installation of the interactive systems developed by our team.
The best exhibition of Mayan art ever held in history.
Of the 282,000 attendees, 160,000 responded to the electronic survey we produced. The exhibition received a high rating of 85% for excellence, with 77% of respondents acknowledging that the interactive materials greatly enhanced their comprehension of Maya culture.