Deutsches Hygiene—Museum Dresden
Interactive objects in the permanent exhibition
The Deutsches Hygiene-Museum is neither a science centre nor a special museum with a fixed subject range but a forum for dialogue between science and society. In its variety of exhibitions and events it reflects the impact of science on society in the 21st century.
The museum’s task is to promote understanding of the sciences and to make the human being accessible as a biological, psychological, social and cultural network through interdisciplinary exhibitions. The practice of cross-disciplinary activity between the natural and cultural sciences is observable today throughout the science landscape and portrays the human being in new unusual perspectives and a variety of contexts.
MARVELING – LEARNING – TRYING OUT
The permanent exhibition revolves around a topic that is as obvious as it is demanding: the human being. The 1,300 displayed objects complement specially made media units and interactive displays to provide an informative and engaging museum experience. Addressing the vastly different needs of the visitors, this multifaceted approach to the topics treated in the exhibition has come to make the Deutsches Hygiene-Museum one of Europe’s most interesting museums of science.
The exhibition is conceived as an adventure into one’s own body, self, thoughts, and feelings. The range and juxtaposition of the objects achieve the ideal of any exhibition—they inspire the visitor’s imagination and elicit reflection. The architecture of their presentation does not rely on spectacular scenographic effects but rather builds on the strengths of classical museum aesthetics.
THE SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS
The special exhibitions are another focus of the museum’s work and have contributed considerably to the Dresden museum receiving national attention. The exhibitions come into being through close co-operation between curators and scientific project groups as well as designers, artists, engineers, set designers and exhibition architects. They deal with the most up-to-date scientific research as well as everyday culture and analyse socio-political problems or philosophical and historico-cultural themes, as for example: “Darwin and Darwinism” (1994), “The Pill. Of Desire and Of Love” (1996), “Old & Young. The Generation Adventure” (1997), “Gene Worlds. Workshop Man?” (1998), “The New Human Being. Obsessions of the 20th Century” (1999), “Cosmos in the Head. Brain and Thinking” (2000), “The (Im-)perfect Human Being. The Right to Imperfection” (2000), “Sex. Facts and Fantasies” (2002), “Man and beast. A paradoxical relationship” (2002), “The Ten Commandments” (2004) “PLAY. The
Exhibition” (2005), “Evolution. Tracing the Odyssey of Life” (2005/06), “Fortune, Luck, and happiness” (2008), “Weather, Climate, Man” (2008).
For further information check www.dhmd.de