Thirty years after silver-screen archaeologist Indiana Jones embarked on his first quest, gsmprjct° was presented the opportunity to collaborate with Lucasfilm Ltd. in the creation and development of an international travelling exhibition, with its first stop scheduled for 2011. Contrasting historical fact with cinematic fiction was the central concept of this journey to the heart of archaeology. The project took shape thanks to an association with two other Montreal firms: BleuBlancRouge and Équipe Spectra. Together, they created the multi-disciplinary team X3 Productions.
In an exhibit environment full of mysteries, adventures and discoveries, two collections were jointly presented. The first, provided by Lucasfilm Archives, featured props, costumes and concept art from the film series, while the other, on loan from the Penn Museum, the National Geographic Society, and Laval University, showcased real historical artefacts. The originality of this dual approach resided in the idea that the popular culture generated by the Indiana Jones films paved the way for the scientific content tackled in the exhibition, adding a touch of modernity to the epic character of the series. Concretely, four emblematic objects from the films (the Ark of the Covenant, the Sankara Stones, the Holy Grail and the Crystal Skull) introduced visitors to four fascinating and immersive sections explaining the evolution of the scientific techniques of archaeological research. The video companion, a multi-media guide, narrated the exhibition and presented various scenes featuring the hero during these same archaeological research steps. The guide also allowed visitors to participate in an interactive, virtual treasure hunt: an adventure for everyone!
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