Dr. Priyatosh Banerjee (Indian and Central Asian Scholar)

Dr. Priyatosh Banerjee (An Exponent on Indian and Central Asian Art)

DOCUMENTATION FOR COMMUNICATION

Publication - Articles & Books

 

The documentation of Museum objects primarily means keeping a proper record of the objects to trace their movements and use on different occasions. The work of documentation includes in its scope almost the entire gamut of museum activities right from the entry of an object into the museum to its study and use for exhibition and other such activities, like research and publication. Documentation for communication is an important part of a museum's activities, for it is obligatory for it to make its material known to the public. There are many ways and means of publicizing a museum. Publications are, however one of the most important among them.

Museums all over the world, especially those in Europe and America, where the Museum movement is very popular, issue a large number of publications which include picture-postcards, guides, handbooks, bulletins, catalogues, research monographs etc. These publications not only tell the visitors about the exhibits, but they are also souvenirs for them and are useful to students and scholars as important aids to their study and research. Again the museum publications prolong the benefit of museum visits. However much one may desire, it is possible only for a few to repeat their visit to a museum. Hence it is very useful to one to have picture-postcards, guides and other publications which will serve as a reminder to one's visit to a museum and its collections. While picture-postcards, photographic and colour reproductions and guides are popular museum literature, meant primarily for the general public, the handbooks, bulletins, catalogues and monographs, especially the last two are based on serious research, as additions to knowledge. The preparation of catalogues and monographs are easily possible if the Museum card-indexes and registers contain  detailed information about the objects. A museum cannot fulfil its educational and other obligation if it is not in possession of the basic information about its collection. The museum records should be full and include all information as to the name and nature of the object, its measurement, date, place of origin, material, condition, mode of acquisition, price, its previous owner, etc. If the museum records are full, they are not only an aid to study and research, but also useful in meeting any legal complications which may arise about any object after its acquisition. The value of a museum object depends upon the amount of information a museum can supply about it to the visitors and scholars.

Of all the museum publications catalogues can be called the most important research publications as they contain the fullest documentation of the objects.

If it is not possible for a museum to bring out its handbooks, bulletins and other well-documented informative literature in time, it is desirable to publish at least its annual reports which would acquaint the public with the acquisitions and activities of a museum during a particular year.

Museum publications, however small they may be, in size and scope, should be well planned and accurate. The information these publications convey should be dependable and worthy of being used by the scholars and students. The museum staff should be engaged in research so that they may contribute to knowledge. The manuscripts should be prepared and edited in time and the text figures and illustrations should be ascertained in advance. The sizing of the illustrations and their disposition on a page should also be properly looked into.

The museum publications should be cheap so that they are within the means of the public in general. Further, their complimentary copies should be sent to different sister institutions so that they may know each other's collections and research which is very useful for comparative study of historical and art trends in a particular country and region. Museum materials can hardly be of any value, if they are not properly studied and catalogued. If there is no spirit of enquiry among the museum staff, the museum cannot properly grow to serve the educational needs. 'Museum material demands that who will interpret it will be prepared.

While most of the Indian museums have rich collections, very few of them have shown any active interest in research, documentation and educational activities whatever the reasons behind this apathy may be. It is however, worth mentioning that the research and publications of the Indian Museum, Calcutta, The Government Museum, Madras, the Prince of Wales Museum, Bombay, the National Museum, New Delhi and a few other are of high standard and of an admirable nature. It is further to be mentioned that the Archaeological Survey of India have brought out informative guide-books on most of their monuments and site museums.

Exhibitions serve the purpose of documentation. Exhibition is a link between the museum and the public. However exhaustive the publications may be, the written words can hardly have the same impact on the mind as a well organized exhibition can have. That is why the exhibition has been considered as the central function of a museum. An exhibition is not a mere assemblage of objects, it is purposeful showing of them so that their main functions and significance can be brought out. A well-organized exhibition contributes to knowledge inasmuch as the objects are shown in such an exhibition from the standpoint of both aesthetic qualities and historical evidence.

Though the purpose of an exhibition is different from that of a book (the book enriches the academic or formal education, while the exhibition of original objects stimulates creative thinking and enriches aesthetic or spiritual experience), it is often found desirable or necessary to provide short labels for individual objects and long explanatory label explaining the historical and artistical significance of the exhibited objects as a group, to help the visitors to understand the purpose of the exhibition and significance of the objects. Fuller documentation of the exhibited objects (in the form of catalogues) is also essential to communicate the message or purpose of the exhibition. All efforts should be directed towards unfolding the story the objects can yield by means of careful planning and layout of the exhibition, and research and comparative study.

While the permanent and temporary exhibitions of a museum are enjoyed by those who come to visit the museum, the travelling exhibitions, though necessarily of a smaller dimension and scope, going out to schools, colleges and community-halls bring the museum in contact with the largest public. They are also an advertisement or means to attract the students and common people to museums. The travelling exhibitions need more extensive documentation as the people to whom they are shown may not be in the same receptive frame of mind as as those who come to a museum which has a congenial environment and can offer all explanatory aids readily.

Dr. P. Banerjee, assistant Director, National Museum, New Delhi.

   

Research Papers  [ 001 - 050051 - 100 | 101 - 150 | 151 - 200 | 201 - 250 ]

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