KALIOPI VALTOPOULOU

03/06/2014

historian-museologist

Current position: Historian- museologist in the Museum of Photography “Christos Kalemkeris” of the Municipality of Kalamaria

Thesis: Museological planning and design of an exhibition of historic photography of a Greek photographer of the 19^th century, Dimitrios Konstantinou, based on the archive of the Museum of Photography “Christos Kalemkeris” of the Municipality of Kalamaria

Object of this thesis, is the synthesis of the museological planning and the creation of museological design of the photo exhibition dedicated to the second largest Greek photographer of the 19th century, Dimitris Constantinou. In short, this study includes all the preliminary work required for setting up a photography exhibition dedicated to a photographer of the 19th century. More specifically, in this work, an extensive reference is being made, in the context of the museological programming, in the establishment of Museum of Photography “Christos Kalemkeris” of the Municipality of Kalamaria, its goals of operation and the policy followed in the exhibition strategy, the mode of operation, in terms of management, staff and workplaces.

Then, the collection of the photographer Dimitris Constantinou is being studied and documentation cards are composed. The audience and the goals of the exhibition are determined, entitled “19th century Greek photographers, the work of Dimitrios Konstantinou” and the general quality standards of exhibition’s space are determined.

Then, the Museological Design is developed, by setting the museological concept of the exhibition, setting up the exhibition sections, justifying at the same time, their separation and organizing the exhibition material per section. Finally, notes and thoughts are addressed to the architect in order to turn them into reality.

The aim of this thesis is to organize a scientific museological photography exhibition which will be probably organized by the Museum of Photography “Christos Kalemkeris” of the Municipality of Kalamaria, which owns the original copy. In case that the above proposal isn’t fulfilled, it can certainly have an advisory character on how to set up a complete museological photography exhibition.

The basic methodology that was followed for the preparation of this work, was the study of Greek and international bibliography,which was chosen by the author of this work, after being proposed by the supervising teachers. For the original study of the material, permission was asked, from the president of the museum, Mr. Christos Kalemkeris, who also contributed to facilitating the access of the author in the files of the Museum. Finally, individual interviews with persons that were scientifically involved were followed so as carry out such a study.

The thesis is divided into two main parts, the Museology Planning and the Museology Design, which in turn, are divided into secondary parts. In the first part the following are included: museum foundation, its operating objective, the analysis of the exhibition policy of the museum, the operating status of the museum, the study of the collection of Dimitris Constantinou, the determination of the public and the aims of the exhibition, with the title: “Greek photographers of the 19th century, the work of Dimitrios Konstantinou” and the general requirements of the proposed exhibition space.

The second part contains the following sections: a summary of the museological programming, a reference in the history of art and the techniques of photography, a description of the configuration of the artistic movements of the late 19th century and the effects of these in the historical and artistic context in Greece of the 19^th century. Finally, the museological concept of the exhibition is defined. The composition and the justification of exhibition units are made and the material of its section is defined according to the main museological concept. Besides, directions are given to the architect in order to design the exhibition report in compliance with the requirements of the museological concept. It should be noted that all the original material belong to the Museum of Photography “Christos Kalemkeris” of the Municipality of Kalamaria. However, a part of the material that contributes to the composition of the exhibition modules belong mainly to the Photographic Archive of the Benaki Museum and is used for the purposes of this work and there is no chance to be published, without the consent of the carrier.

In short/In other words, this specific thesis is a complete museological exhibition proposal at the disposal of any interested party.