The loan of 130 priceless works of ancient Greek art from the world’s most famous museum presented the gsmprct° team with a once in a lifetime challenge. In the Louvre, these works are arranged according to materials and gallery restraints; however, the National Museum of Singapore provided a unique opportunity for this exceptionally large number of works to be displayed thematically for the first time, thereby creating a cohesive overview of ancient Greek life.
gsmprct° created varied environments and used highly theatrical lighting in displaying the sculptures, vases, figurines, and jewellery. Objects and sculptures were treated like actors, immersed in dynamic light that recalled the changing Mediterranean sunlight from dawn to dusk. In the thematic sections, sculptures were presented on a human scale — removed from high pedestals and without barriers — and lit with pure white light to highlight their profiles and expressions. Here, visitors were put into direct contact with the sculptures, gazing at each other across space.
A “meander zone” linking all sections of the exhibition provided a free space in which visitors could casually move, sketch, observe from a distance, play, read, and listen to ancient Greek-inspired sounds or pause while enjoying transitional coloured lighting effects. Sightlines and transparencies invited the audience to play the role of voyeur and watch the spectacle from unexpected and strategic viewpoints.
The Greek Masterpieces of the Louvre thrilled thousands of visitors, far exceeding the National Museum of Singapore’s most ambitious projections.