The Oder as a bridge. The Oder as a frontier.

Client:
Remembrance and Future Centre - The Depot History Centre in Wrocław

Year:
2022

Designers:
Natalia Jakóbiec, Katarzyna Pełka-Bura, Marcin Krater, Marta Żmija-Wojciuch, Magdalena Giertuga

Photo:
Radosław Kaźmierczak

Exhibition “The Oder as a bridge. The Oder as a frontier” presents the Oder as a river of great economic and political importance in the history and culture of our part of Europe. 

The exhibition includes historic maps showing the Oder as the axis of the region and unique documents - political treaties - defining its role as a border. The exhibition space has been organized around the symbolic representation of the river, which defines the two narrative axes of the exhibition. On the one hand, maps and old prints referring to the theme of the Oder as a bridge found their place. On the other side, treaties and documents showing the importance of the Oder River as a border were presented. The division of space was marked by walls on which content and iconography were placed. The arrangement is complemented by "islands" with display cases and overhanging carriers made of Tyvek with graphics. Valuable objects were placed in showcases designed especially for the exhibition. The main accent at the entrance to the exhibition is the impressive and dynamic animation - the projection of maps on the floor. In the second part of the exhibition, a screen presenting details of treaties and documents was placed. 

The colors of the exhibition were based on two contrasting colors - a deep and noble navy blue referring to the color of water and a noble and lively ocher inspired by the colors of old maps. The typefaces that have been selected for the exhibition are the sans-serif grotesque Neue Hass Unica W1G and the serif antiqua Krete. The content of the exhibition is complemented by simple, contour illustrations, which are of conventional scenographic value. 

An integral part of the project is the visual identity developed for the exhibition, which included poster and invitation designs. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog whose form is directly related to the dual form of the entire exhibition. The layout of the catalog has been divided into two parts analogously to the presented content. Colors and typography are consistent with those used in the exhibition space. The catalog was printed on recycled matte paper, whose off-white color perfectly matched the archival exhibits.