The Nebra Sky Disc – The Discovery of Heaven in the Drents Museum
The Nebra Sky Disc is coming to the Netherlands. From 6 August to 18 September 2022, the Drents Museum will present the first realistic representation of astronomical phenomena known from anywhere in the world. The exhibition ‘The Nebra Sky Disc – The Discovery of Heaven’ is designed by NorthernLight with a unique theatrical approach. Visitors are being immersed in and audio-visual trip from the Netherlands to Nebra, where the disc was found. Being introduced to finds and customs from the Bronze Age, they are looking for the answer to the question why people have been interested in the starry sky for thousands of years. The Nebra Sky Disc – The Discovery of Heaven can be seen in the Abbey Church (Abdijkerk) of the Drents Museum.
One of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time
The Nebra Sky Disc is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time and an absolute showpieces of European archaeology. It is part of the archaeology collection of the Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte in Halle (Germany) and is rarely lent out. It is therefore very special that this outstanding object is on display in Assen for six weeks.
The bronze sky disc inlaid with gold was found in 1999 in Nebra in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. The disc dates from around 1750 BC. The sky is faithfully depicted with stars as shining points and not as gods or mythical animals. The disc probably served as a kind of calendar and shows that people in the Bronze Age had knowledge of the night sky. It is highly likely that the sky disc of Nebra had a religious significance as well as a practical one. This key object allows us to see the European Bronze Age in a completely new light.
A heavenly setting
“The scenographic concept of the exhibition has a theatrical approach. The physical shapes as well as the celestial bodies on the wall prints are derived from the shapes on the sky disk itself,” creative lead Max Pecher explains. Also the Nebra lettering is custom made to create an entirely coherent form language. Real footage and fantastic elements merge into abstract landscapes on the theatrical backdrops and serve as illustrations of the audio-visual story layer.
“The Drents Museum has been transformed into a heavenly setting….
When you think of an archaeological exhibition, you quickly think of display cases with pots and half-decayed objects in a somewhat dusty decor. Nothing could be further from the truth of the new exhibition of the Drents Museum: upon entering you imagine yourself under an enchanting starry sky. The walls in the dark space show an abstract vast landscape, surmounted by a blue-purple sky full of celestial bodies.”
Trouw
The exhibition is produced in collaboration with the Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte in Halle (Germany). Lichtpunt, Iris vormgeving and YellowBloom helped to make this magical object come to live.
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