"Box by Box": Exploring Knowledge and Identifying Gaps
Data visualisation of the collection now online
By 2028, we want our collection database to be accessible online. We have reached our first milestone: the interactive visualisation "Box by Box" already offers an overview of our collection, which comprises 61,889 objects.
No individual artefacts are visible yet; the collection is represented schematically by stacked storage crates – one crate stands for one object. Four filters modify the view: "continent", "date of entry", "provenance status", and "actors". The visualisation shows what we know about the collection and what we don’t know – the names that were recorded in our database, and those that were discarded.
"Box by Box" exposes patterns in our museum documentation. It reveals gaps, and illustrates how colonial collections left essential individuals and narratives undocumented.
Have you spotted any errors or had any thoughts while exploring it? We'd love to hear from you by email at collections@vmz.uzh.ch.
"Box by Box" was developed as part of a research project aimed at increasing transparency regarding our collection.
Project team at the museum:
Marina Berazategui (project lead)
Joris Burla
Melissa Caflisch
Maylawi Herbas
Alice Hertzog
Amir Mommartz
Andrea Staub
Rebekka Sutter
Daniela Zurbrügg
Design: Melanie Imfeld
Programming:Lucid
Supported by the Federal Office of Culture