bergen city museum experiences
| exhibitions- accessories and clothing from the Middle Ages.
A pink ribbon on the lapel, a smooth ring on the finger, piercing, nail polish, hairdos, caps, belts and shoes... How we dress and dress up says who we are, or who we want to be.
The concept bling-bling, or just bling, refers to jewellery that people today wear or bring, or accessories like diamond covered mobile phones and small accessory dogs. The concept first appeared in the American hiphip-culture, but is no longer reserved by this culture. Today bling is spoken of in all environments. But can we speak of bling in connection with the Middle Ages?
The myth of the Middle Ages as grey, brown and dull is today rejected by archeologists and historians. The upper class of the Middle Ages at times dressed in clothes that surpasses today's fashion icons, both in design and economic value. And other groups in society took after and created their own fashion. Small bits of archeological material of gold, silk and ceramics show that clothes, jewellery and other blingy accessories have been important.
Even though fashion spread slower in earlier days, and through other channels than today, it is possible to draw parallels from the Middle Ages to our own society. In this exhibition we want to show both similarities and contrasts between the fashion of the Middel Ages and the fashion of today. With modern design and music composed for this exhibition we invite the audience to a physical meeting with our vain ancestors.
The exhibition is designed by Martin Kvamme, one of Norway's most well-known designers, with a long line of commissions to show for, among others for artists like Turboneger, Bertine Zetlitz, Cloroform, Magnet and Gluecifer, and for the large board producer Burton. The music is composed by John Erik Kaada, known both as a solo artist, as a member of Cloroform and as the man behind the film music for "Mannen som elsket Yngve", "Hawaii, Oslo", "O'Horten", to name but a few.
The exhibition is a result of close cooperation between academic circles on medieval times, The Bergen City Museum and external designers and also pupils from higher secondary schools. In connection with the exhibition we will all through 2009 present Middel Ages-inspired bling produced by different higher secondary schools in Western Norway.
The artefacts in the exhibition are owned and managed by Bergen Museum, and are mainly drawn from the finds from Bryggen in Bergen. Bergen Museum has provided substantial contributions to the project both on preserving and mediating.
If you want to enter deeper into the exciting Middle Age material, there is a book with 23 different articles on blingy Middle Age societies and their fascinating context. The book "Bling" is for sale on Bryggen's Museum and other arenas of The Bergen City Museum.
Old bling: Rings have never been out of style.
European royal families have always been blingy.
