Reflections, Western Australian Museum
PERMANENT GALLERY DESIGN
Project Commenced: April 2017
Project Completed: April 2019
Floor Area: 800 – 1000sqm per gallery
Thylacine’s role
- design management
- interpretive design
- graphic design
- media design
- lighting design
Awards
Museums and Galleries National Awards 2021
Best Permanent Exhibition (level 4 budget)
Australian Interior Design Awards 2021
Best of State Western Australia
DNA Paris Design Awards 2021
Winner Interior/Civic design
Dezeen Awards 2021
Longlist Exhibition Design
Reflections
The ‘Reflections’ gallery focuses on the idea of ‘Being Western Australian’, highlighting personal narratives from among the many different cultures and experiences that shape the State’s character, community and identity. By putting people first in stories that reach across diverse subject areas, ‘Reflections’ thematically connects to all Museum content, with particularly strong links to ‘Ngalang Koort Boodja Wirn’ and ‘Connections’.
The exhibition space consists of two different yet connected gallery spaces, the heritage Jubilee space, and the new Link space. The exhibition aims to be surprising and engaging, allowing visitors to connect with, and respond to, the diverse stories that help shape the experience of Western Australia. The interactions throughout the gallery are designed to be similarly diverse, to create a sense of discovery and deep personal connection.
The exhibition itself is collection-rich, using a wide variety of display techniques to connect with the visitor, including carefully modulating lighting, movement, sound, smell, physical and mechanical interactives, as well as digital interpretation. A series of linking elements connect the two galleries stylistically, while reflecting the diversity of stories and experiences of Western Australians.