Use of Symbolic Reconstructions in Open-Air Museums

Abstract

The Russian-Ukrainian war, which took on a full-scale form in February 2022, became a tragedy and set the question of restoring lost monuments with new vigour. Therefore, the publication which aims to identify the specific features of symbolic reconstructions’ use for the representation of lost architectural monuments becomes especially relevant. Based on a comprehensive architectural-typological and comparative analysis of the renovation of architectural structures and non-existent objects, open-air exhibiting methods in Ukraine and the world (fixation, interpretation, revitalisation, reconstruction, and modelling), the study reflects on the possibilities to preserve the history of destroyed monuments. Open-air museums offer a wide range of activities allowing to include monuments that are not subject to further functional adaptation into the expositions. The study proposes to use symbolic reconstructions to reproduce and exhibit lost monuments. Graphic (the simplest and most universal, consist of the two-dimensional image demonstration), physical (larger-scale, permanent, three-dimensional stylised installations that carry information about the lost monument’s nature), virtual (the most flexible and the most promising, do not require the direct impact on the exhibit, include the use of augmented reality technologies), and performative (one-time or temporary activities, most often are used in the associative landscapes’ territories) symbolic reconstructions on the example of their use in museums and open-air exhibitions were examined in detail. The effectiveness of these measures in open-air museums was considered and recommendations for their use, which can become the basis for further implementation in practice in Ukrainian exhibition institutions, were formulated