World of Interiors: The Not-so-far East Project
In September 2009, 15 young people from Cardinal Newman Catholic School in Hove took up a challenge to create an exhibition taking a fresh look at the Royal Pavilion.
Armed with open minds and enthusiasm, they began by visiting and exploring the Royal Pavilion. They met curators to find out about the Chinese-style interiors and how the palace is a great example of chinoiserie – a European style that copied and adapted Chinese designs and motifs.
To put the Royal Pavilion in context, the young people visited the British Museum and talked to staff who are experts in Chinese history. They also looked round Chinatown in London and had lunch in a dim sum restaurant.
After all this research, the group had to decide how to express their thoughts and feelings about the Royal Pavilion through artwork. They talked through possibilities with museum designers and curators, and identified other professionals they wanted to work with – photographers, film-makers and artists. They also collaborated with a graphic designer and the museum marketing team to produce gallery materials, publicity and an exhibition style.
This project proves that young people can be creatively and culturally inspired by the Royal Pavilion. Through reinterpreting the Chinese-style interiors in a way that is meaningful and relevant to them, their exhibition can positively influence people’s attitudes towards the Royal Pavilion, encouraging more people to engage with the building and its collections.
