Museums can stop time. As they meander among these homages to the past, visitors find themselves transported across time, from speculating about the lives of our ancient ancestors to marveling at the vivid inventiveness of modern artists and foreseeing future advancements.
This International Museum Day on May 18, Trip.com, a top one-stop travel agency, reveals some of the major current trends that museums are shaping globally, even though world travellers continue to be drawn to museums like the Louvre Museum, the Palace Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art.
Emerging trends in museums: technological innovation and creative installations
A growing number of museums are enhancing visitor experiences and dynamically fusing the past and present with cutting-edge displays and technology.
Through the fusion of art and technology, the colossal installations designed for the Guardians of Time exhibition at the Guimet Museum in Paris, sponsored by Trip.com, offer a completely new interpretation of Chinese culture and legend. Chinese artist Jiang Qiong Er’s artwork will occupy various iconic museum sites, such as the façade and the collections of ancient Asian art, from April 2024 to February 2025. This will create a thrilling trip and a visionary reflection on time.
During the China-France Year of Cultural Tourism, an exhibition is being held. Furthermore, the exhibition will provide a unique experience for visitors from around the world to gain a deep dive into the resonance and convergence of various cultures as they stream into Paris for the 2018 Summer Olympics.
Through the installation Origin, the museum building’s façade offers a modern version of the Chinese grottoes of Mogao, Yungang, and Longmen. On the windows and at the top of the main entrance stand twelve mythical creatures that were conceptualized with the aid of artificial intelligence. They all commemorate the Year of the Dragon and stand for fundamental humanistic and philosophical principles like harmony, inclusivity, and preservation of the environment.
In the Her Voice – Bravery installation, a massive net is suspended above the museum rooftop. The stories of sixty Chinese women who have immigrated to other countries are embroidered into the net using a new script known as “women’s script,” which was inspired by the nv shu, a secret female script that was developed over 3,000 years ago by peasant women in Hunan, China. These women’s poetic writings convey their experiences, hopes, pains, and bravery.
Advances in digital technology are facilitating museums worldwide in expanding their audience reach. With internet access, augmented and virtual reality experiences, and simplified reservation processes, traditional museums are given a new lease on life.
A virtual reality video is available to enhance the tourist experience at the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum in Xi’an, one of the most popular destinations for foreign visitors to China. Visitors may watch the terracotta warriors come to life and use their power on the battlefield to establish the first centralised empire in ancient China while seated in a 360° rotating chair and donning a virtual reality headset.
Recently, the museum and Trip.com launched an integrated overseas service platform that offers more convenient online booking and payment options for inbound travelers as well as a mini digital museum where visitors can learn about the museum’s renowned collection even before they travel.
Through the utilization of its extensive worldwide user base and industry-leading product offerings, Trip.com is enabling museum partners to interact with and welcome visitors from near and far, creating new opportunities as these institutions advance into the future.
A museum of the future: Considering the past to ensure a sustainable future
Museums are utilizing immersive exhibits, interactive displays, and cutting-edge installations to spark stimulating discussions about humankind’s relationship with nature in response to the urgent environmental concerns facing both our planet and society.
The National Museum of Singapore is hosting a unique exhibition titled “Plastic: Remaking Our World” from January 27 to June 23, 2023. The exhibition explores the material’s rapid ascent in the 20th century, its effects on the environment, and innovative approaches to using plastics more sustainably. While an interactive area replicates a house full of goods to show how ubiquitous plastics are in our daily lives, an immersive film installation compares the long-term creation of oil with the rapid generation of plastic waste.
A breathtaking 3D display designed by the well-known Japanese digital art collective teamLab takes visitors on a tour through the virtual and visual environment of Singaporean history as part of the museum’s permanent exhibition “Story of the Forest.” Drawing inspiration from the museum’s cherished William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings, the exhibition allows visitors to get up close and personal with the lively animals of the Malay Peninsula during the 1800s.
Trip.com, with its rapidly growing global tour and ticket offers, is committed to providing travellers with interesting programs, eye-catching displays, and the chance to learn about the rich cultural legacy of the world. To broaden their reach and preserve memories for future generations, Trip.com actively collaborates with museum partners worldwide, offering experiences ranging from touring ancient civilizations, admiring masterpieces, and hearing fresh voices.
