Otago Polytechnic and Otago Museum collaborated on the design and production of this large-scale exhibition and live project, open between September 2015- February 2016. The theme of this exhibition was care. Through learning about the roles and relationships of New Zealanders in these hospitals, year 3 Bachelor of Design (Communication) students, were encouraged to empathize with these conditions, and develop immersive experiences for Museum visitors of all ages.
Drawing upon Dunedin novelist Maxine Alterio’s book “Lives we leave behind” as a primary resource, the exhibition was developed around the lives of a small group of nurses from Otago and Southland, whose ship sailed to Europe in 1915. Students developed characters, scenes and interactions to support the exhibition story and worked closely with Museum staff to ensure historical accuracy.
The exhibition design was a provocative restaging of New Zealand Stationery Hospital #1, located about 3kms behind the Western front, in the fields of Flanders.
Designed and produced by Caro McCaw and Leyton Glen, and year 3 students, with support from Otago Polytechnic’s Workspace. ythe exhibition received over 40,000 visitors and many positive reviews. You can read an article about the project HERE