.unseen

Travelling exhibition addressing climate change through sensory exploration.

Context

A review of over 485 studies shows the climate crisis increases extinction risk. But what if, instead, it caused some animals to expand their range, creating new threats for humans?

Unseen explores how climate change shifts our understanding of nature. Through sensory experiences, visitors investigate a mysterious animal expanding its habitat and the potential dangers involved.

This traveling exhibition challenges our reliance on visual cues and introduces an innovative approach for museums, zoos, and aquariums—offering science engagement without traditional live displays.

Outcomes and Delivery

Unseen is a tactile, activity-based exhibition designed to engage visitors with short, interactive learning experiences. The aim is for a fun, playful atmosphere that encourages reflection during and after participation.

It caters to all ages, from young children to adults, considering physical differences.

Exhibits should be buildable using available resources such as CNC machines, 3D printers, welding equipment, and small tools, without requiring specialised skills for assembly.

Key Interpretative Goals

The primary interpretative objective is to underscore the ongoing, often imperceptible effects of climate change and its global consequences.

The exhibition environment should remain open, facilitating self-guided engagement rather than prescribing a fixed pathway.

Exhibits are designed to communicate the following key messages:

Human activity influences the environment.
Climate change alters the distribution of animal species.
These shifts may be challenging to observe until significant change has occurred.
Such transformations also affect human populations, underscoring our integral role within the interconnected ecosystem.

Narrative

The narrative of this exhibition is conveyed through the Irukandji jellyfish. This species was selected due to its capacity to evoke an emotional response and a sense of wonder in visitors, as living exhibits frequently depend on such connections. While living animal displays are visually engaging, the prominence of the featured species can occasionally overshadow the educational objectives of the exhibition.

To maintain visitor engagement and curiosity, the identity of the featured animal is not immediately disclosed. Instead, each exhibit incrementally enhances the visitor's knowledge and understanding until the Irukandji jellyfish is ultimately revealed.

The Irukandji jellyfish is notably diminutive—virtually invisible to the unaided eye—and possesses potent venom, which presents significant challenges for its safe display in a live setting. The jellyfish was chosen as the ambassador species because, unlike many organisms whose habitats may diminish due to climate change, jellyfish populations are likely to expand their range.

Irukandji jellyfish have already been reported as far south as K'gari Island. Should their distribution extend further, densely populated and popular tourist destinations such as the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast could be increasingly affected by these marine stingers.

The venom of the Irukandji jellyfish is extremely potent. Effective treatment necessitates hospitalization and intensive medical intervention, and, in numerous cases, envenomation can be fatal.

“100 times more potent than a cobra”

Exhibit 0

What: Digital wall projection

Why: Introduce the concept that we can't always see or foresee everything

How: Visitors are encouraged to sit and watch a large format projection screen. The projection is a view underwater on a coral reef and a small almost indistinguishable Irukandji jellyfish floats somewhere. The exhibit prompts the viewer if they can spot the risk (metaphorical and real). The seating consists of a series of movable letters that spell Irukandji but are not necessarily placed in correct spelling.

Exhibit 1

What: Interactive Range map using touch

Why: Develop an understanding of human impact on animal ranges

How: Visitors are invited to place their hands onto temperature sensors. As the temperature of the rises a series of LED lights are activated showing the extent of the range moving further south.

Exhibit 2

What: Exploratory tactile object

Why: Reinforce the idea that humans only use basic information to reinforce their understanding of the world

How: Visitors are encouraged to reach into an enclosed exhibit chamber. Within the chamber is a 3D printed Irukandji jellyfish amongst other random animals and collected and cleaned ocean plastic.

Exhibit 3

What: Tactile object

Why: Reinforce that human behaviour impacts us directly

How: Visitors are encouraged to reach into an exhibit chamber and move a control slider. Dangling from the roof are a series of copper strands (mimicking the tentacles). These copper strands are connected to the control slider and deliver a small electric shock much as a jellyfish would when touched.

Exhibit 4

What: Activity based tactile object

Why: reveal the animal we have been searching for all along.

How: A series of 3D printed bas relief plates featuring individual animals are available for the visitor to look through. They are then invited to select one featuring the animal they think they have been searching for and place it onto a desktop surface and take a pencil rubbing of the plate.

Exhibit 5