A day at Museum.
I was very fortunate enough to spend a year at Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalay (CSMVS) as a student of Museum management and art conservation under an eminent scholars and museum professionals. Each and every day spent at Museum was memorable to me. CSMVS is a museum where each and every corner is capable enough to engage visitors with new experiences and knowledge.
Being as a Museum management student I got a chance to visit International Doll Museum in Delhi which I will cherish as once in a life time experience for whole life. My sister strongly recommended me to visit this particular museum when I decided to visit various places in Delhi through the government bus service on my own.
A Doll is a thing which is closely associated with our childhood. Each girl is having some special memory with her favourite doll. I was on cloud nine when I decided to visit the museum which is based on the theme which is close to everyone heart. A big panel containing elaborate information about the collector and his journey of gathering all collection impressed me at the entrance only. The museum which do't have fancy things around but the collection itself is self explanatory and full of surprises was established in 1965 is a personal collection of K.Shankar Pillai who collected various types of dolls from all over the world . Around 6500 dolls from around 85 countries are displayed here in the museum.
Dolls made up of different materials right from cloth, Wood to ceramic etc.Each and every showcase was having informative display panel and Tags having dates and location from where he received a perticular doll.The facial expressions of each doll was different than other. The expressions were so lively that I was feeling that they were narrating their stories.Dolls were decorated with verieties of different outfits depicting the culture of perticular community or state. Painted backgrounds and various props were making displays more attractive.
There was a separate section for the dolls which were showing socio- cultural diversity of India through various dance forms, Music, rituals,clothing were amazed me so much that I can still recollect that memory after two long years. Most prominently dolls showing, how to wear sari, Kathakali Dance dolls, Dolls of Incarnations of Vishnu were most memorable among all. As I visited the museum alone due to which there was no time barrier. I was roaming around the museum and was observing dolls with minute details. Time just flew and I could not even realise that I spent more than three hours at this beautiful place. The experience was like meditation for me. I could feel the calmness within and around. I was able to listen my own inner voice as I was feeling inspired and amazed. Each and every minute was increasing my excitement to know more and more about these dolls.
After some time I started looking at the collection from the Museologist point of view.
What else they can do to make display more attractive? Do they really need to do anything more? Lights are appropriate and sufficient enough or not? What else this perticular museum should do to attract