Typing this on the train northwards. Saturday saw me at a fascinating conference on the Late Stuart Army at the National Army Museum. Great papers by engaging speakers. It was well organised and well conducted. However l could not say the same of the museum itself. The thematic displays were confusing and strangely presented. I was underwhelmed to say the least.
Yesterday l went to the Imperial War Museum ( l had been to neither museum in thirty years or so) and the opposite applied. Engaging,chronological and coherent,excellent presentation. The Holocaust section was superb and the model of part of a camp overwhelming. The silence of the people visiting was moving.
A really helpful volunteer told me about a ww1 field gun on display and we talked about context via the Airfix gun , horses and crew of of our youth. The visuals in the ww1 area were incredible.
A tale of two very different museums and an opportunity lost in my opinion. I would be interested to read what you think.
I'm glad you enjoyed the talk, even if the museum was a let down. My only visit to the IWM was back in the 70's when I was at high school. Superb layout, enjoyed it immensely. I'm long overdue a visit.
ReplyDeleteHope you get back soon.
DeleteHave heard that the NAM had been 'improved' sad to hear it hasn't .
ReplyDeleteYou have heard correctly.
DeleteI have to agree with you regarding the National Army Musuem. I've visited it on several occasions in the last 15 years or so and whilst specific exhibitions have been well presented (for example, their Crimean War exhibition in 2004) I have been largely underwhelmed by the museum as a whole for the same reasons you mentioned. By contrast, my visits to the IWM span back to the mid-1970s and I have always enjoyed it there despite the changing emphasis on their displays as time has gone by. The IWM offshoot museums in Leeds and Fort Nelson are also excellent and never fail to impress on each visit.
ReplyDeleteThe Leeds one is indeed splendid!
DeleteVisited The new IWM WW1 displays in 2014, very busy and almost sensory overload but a good range of unusual international WW1 exhibits and an attempt to put them into context for the general visitor.
ReplyDeleteGood to see they have tackled more recent wars, the Middle East carbomb wreck on display is quite powerful.
Used to go with my late Dad fairly regularly growing up from the late 1970s. Big impressive chunks of hardware, still there. Amazing art collection.
The Holocaust section is powerful but i found is sometimes spoilt by unsupervised older school groups hurrying through it, unaware of what they are seeing or not seeing.
Not visited the National Army Museum for about 15 to 20 years ...
No school groups when I was there but l can imagine. I found the Ww1 display great at putting things into context for folk. Overall a moving and interesting visit.
DeleteI was wondering why you posted photos of Chelsea area on Instagram.. now all is revealed. Sadly I was away, or might have interested in that conference - could you maybe give a run-down of the lectures? I went to the Battlefields Trust Richard Holmes Memorial Lecture there some months back, that was very good. Like others, I think the NAM is rather disappointing - in the recent refurb they seem to have devoted more space to the cafe for Chelsea's yummy mummys than to the exhibits! I think the IWM is much more impressive, and has consistently good exhibitions.
ReplyDeleteI really like looking at buildings and photographing them. London is such a gift for me in terms of variety, quantity and interest.
DeleteTalks ranged from Highland dress in the 89 and 15, fortress design in Scotland, James vii army in New England, the Scottish army from restoration to revolution of 1688, logistics in the rebellion of 1685 and finally transition of the English Army from James ll to William lll.