A temporary exhibition about the biggest challenge that the museum has undertaken since the salvaging and conservation of the ship.
Client: Vasamuseet (the Vasa museum) /SMTM
Team: Charlotte Ryberg (workshop, exhibition design concept, spatial and graphic design) together with the great in-house team Siri Beer Boman (project manager), and Jenny Findahl (digital design for screens).
The project “Support Vasa” is the biggest challenge the museum has undertaken since the salvaging and conservation of the ship. The Vasa needs a new support structure, so that the damaged wood doesn’t collapse under its own weight. From a scientific research project of the status, to an ingenious and intelligent support system, preserving the ship for the future.
My assignment was to tell the story of what is going on at the ship for the next few years and to invite donations, from large ones, to smaller from the many visitors.
We created a wooden structure, with a support like visual appearance. Very straight forward and honest in its materiality. Linseed paint in a colour matching the support system. The integration of the structure in the overall visual effect of the space was of great importance. To not take away from the absolute wow moment when first standing in front of the ship. But still to guide, invite.
The project already had a symbol, and the museum its’ typography which we followed but played with scale to draw the visitor in. Stories, objects (a bolt from Vasa you can get as a donor) and three screens.
The exhibition will stand during the project period of approximately 4-5 years, but can be repurposed for other needs.
An installation introducing the visitor to this big, important project. Exhibition architecture, print and digital (in-house production of the communication showed on the screen).
Stötta Vasa/Support Vasa. A wooden structure, in deep, dark burgundy red linseed glaze. Each section telling a part of the story.
A repurposed showcase with a bolt, which previously has been supporting the ship and is a gift for larger donations. We repurposed a used glass showcase previously used at Sjöhistoriska.
A solid support structure, design to integrate well in the overall tonality of the museum.
The structure and visual appearance of this info-point exhibition was designed to not overpower the effect of the ship, to integrate it well in the architecture of the museum, while making the visitor curious of what’s going on and informed of ways to support and donate if possible.
Tinted white typography directly on the wooden surface, glazed in a deep, dark red, matching the colour of the new support structure for the ship.
At the carpenter’s. Checking on the work in progress of the solid pine structure and doing a demonstration on how to apply and work with the linseed oil glaze to colour the wood, while letting its structure shine through.
Stötta Vasa/Support Vasa. An early concept visualization sketch of the wooden structure, in deep, dark red linseed glaze. Each section telling a part of the story.