Wunderkammer Revival: Between Wonder and Knowledge

The article by Fabrizio Federici on Artribune examines the contemporary revival of Wunderkammer (cabinets of curiosities) in museums and exhibitions, warning against the risk of prioritizing spectacle over education. While these 16th-17th century collections blended naturalia and artificialia in dense, wonder-inducing displays, today's reinterpretations often reduce them to mere 'wow effect' without providing critical context. The internet and AI have been proposed as modern equivalents, but the author argues that true Wunderkammer served as tools for inquiry, not just astonishment. Recent examples like the East Storehouse at the Victoria and Albert Museum, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, explicitly aim to recreate the immersive cabinet experience. However, Federici cautions that without adequate interpretive tools, such displays risk banalizing the historical phenomenon. He advocates for a balance between wonder and knowledge, echoing the approach of early collectors like Ulisse Aldrovandi and Athanasius Kircher.