Dioramas memorialize, conserve and educate. Often embracing 19th century desires for the picturesque and sublime, they appeal to our sense of wonder. Depicting historic events, exotic flora and fauna, and far away places, they reflect society’s desires and values. Many artists explore the implications of the diorama in their work.
Discover more about the topic by investigating the following:
The Art of the Diorama: Roxy Paine’s Security Theater
Read Brian Boucher’s review of Roxy Paine’s dioramas at Marianne Boesky Gallery, NYC.
Through the Plexiglass: A History of Museum Dioramas
Read Bridgitte Barcly’s article in The Atlantic examining the history of museum dioramas as reflections of the natural world.
Diorama-rama: History Behind Glass
Read Alexandria Sivak blog post about the photographs of Hiroshi Sugimoto and the history of the diorama on The Getty Iris: The Online Magazine of the Getty.
“History of Dioramas” by Claudia Kancke and Rainer Hutterer
Chapter 2 from Natural History Dioramas: History, Construction and Educational Role edited by Tunnicliffe, S.D. and Scheersoi, A. examines the technical development and history of habitat dioramas.
American Museum of Natural History, New York
The dioramas at the American Museum of Natural History in New York highlight biodiversity.
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