Member Article

Leach Studio help conquer new Vikings exhibition at the Yorkshire Museum

Huddersfield-based exhibition designers Leach Studio has helped to bring the legendary Viking story to life at the Yorkshire Museum.

A touring exhibition – which features some of the most exciting Anglo-Saxon and Viking discoveries ever made in Britain– is now on display at this prestigious museum, thanks to a major partnership with the British Museum and York Museums Trust.

Star objects from both world-renowned collections, plus ground-breaking new archaeological research have come together in this new interpretative revelation.

Leach’s brief was to help change the way that people perceive the notorious Vikings – an iconic group of seafarers commonly thought of as pillaging thieves. The exhibit therefore shows a more untold side of their tale, illustrating their traits as pioneering explorers and talented craftsmen, with rich religious beliefs and an incredibly discerning fashion sense!

After an extensive 6 month project, Leach has created a number of beautiful graphic displays with high-resolution photographs that allow visitors to study the precious discoveries in more detail. Fun interactive features have also been incorporated to contextualise the artefacts shown throughout – there is even the opportunity to experience what it might have been like to row a Viking long boat, with a seascape backdrop plus audio of crashing waves and loud Viking voices.

Commenting on the new exhibit, Natalie Buy, Curator of Archaeology at the Yorkshire Museum, said: “We wanted to provide a fresh perspective on how the Vikings shaped every aspect of British life, and, for many people, this will mean we’re challenging perceptions of what it meant to be a Viking.

“But this is exactly what these exhibits are designed to do – immerse, enlighten and inspire. We’ve already received some fantastic feedback which is a true testament to the work of Leach in helping us to bring this story to life.”

The exhibition will be on display at the Yorkshire Museum in York until 5 November 2017. It will then tour to the University of Nottingham Museum, as well as The Atkinson in Southport, Aberdeen Art Gallery and Norwich Castle Museum.

For more information go to: www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Katie Mallinson .