Exhibition

"This museum actually does not exist yet. This would be the museum of fair and honest...it would capture the reason of things and encourage development." Le Corbusier, the Decorative Art

An exhibition of revetments in Geneva exalts the materials of our everyday lives. The materials of the jewelry store have been determined obsolete--we were the saving force between them and the trash. They were subject to a cycle of fashion that deems clothing, music, architecture, and numerous other expressions, along with materials, obsolete, their lifespans varying by cultural, economical, and political factors. By extracting these materials and displaying them as an insight into a time period since forgotten we stop the cycle, if for only a moment with a pause for reflection. 

The materials of the jewelry store were chosen (presumably) to be a backdrop portraying luxury. A burl pattern dominates, imitating burl wood, a rare formation of wood that is expensive and was coveted by many, but is now less popular. Golden details accent the panels and gold ceiling reflects the light like jewelry itself. The message was clear, these materials meant luxury. Now, more than 25 years later, they are considered obsolete, ugly, and worthless, demonstrated by the new owner of the jewelry store doing away with everything. Though they may not be considered the height of fashion anymore, they act as a time capsule. For a time, hundreds of customers bought their jewels for loved ones and the shopkeeper spent his days among them. These materials are an artifact of their time but most are too caught up in the cycle of change to notice.