One Man’s Treasures. Design by The Letter Q. |. Winner 2019 Resene Installation and Experiential Award
One Man’s Treasures: John Street & the Fosters Collection is an exhibition design by The Letter Q and developed with the New Zealand Maritime Museum to celebrate John Street – a man with a passion for preserving New Zealand’s maritime heritage. The exhibit features objects that were originally part of the historic Foster’s Ship Chandlery.
So many who have experienced the original Chandlery over the years describe a kind of labyrinth of nautical curiosities with surprises around every corner. A key objective for the design team was to retain the eclectic character of the collection but also to guide visitors through the stories in the exhibition with a cohesive aesthetic.
The old Chandlery was also described as a hybrid of a shop and a museum so the exhibition display furniture respectfully presents the old treasures and allows them to resonate with some of the patina of the old shop. Plywood plinths and risers provided a warm counterpoint to the cooler paint colours and introduce the language of crates and nail boxes to the overall material language. Objects and supporting plinths appear as if illuminated by the glow of hanging ships lanterns. What better place to tell tales of the sea.
