Comparison and contrast of exhibit labels in fine art museums and scientific museums:a case study of Taiwan Museum of Art and National Kaohsiung Science & Technology Museum

• Main Author: 吳鴻慶
• Other Authors: 張譽騰
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2000
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/11696099135838759137

碩士 === 臺南藝術學院 === 博物館學研究所 === 88 === Comparison and contrast of exhibit labels in fine art museums and scientific museums: a case study of Taiwan Museum of Art and National Kaohsiung Science & Technology Museum. ABSTRACT Exhibit labels are significant tools that mediate exhibits and audience. They help audience know the objects and thus fulfill museums’ educational function. This research attempts to compare and contrast the exhibit labels in fine art museums and scientific museums, and uses them to testify their respective exhibit characteristics. The author points out the defects of exhibit labels exemplified in both categories of museums, and further offers suggestions based on their own natures. Finally, as well as suggestions for further study, the author also proposes some possible orientations for future development of exhibit labels from the points of audience’s different reading and learning needs. In the case study of exhibit labels in Taiwan Museum of Art and National Kaohsiung Science & Technology Museum, together with a detail research among literatures, the author has come up with following conclusions: 1.Exhibit labels reflect proper characteristics of fine art museums and scientific museums: The types, contents, functions, and ways of presentation of exhibit labels in a fine art museum tend to correspond with its object-oriented, wonder-giving, and contemplative exhibit character; while that of them in a scientific museum are more inclined to match its concept-oriented, resonance-giving, and discovery-like exhibit character. 2.Shortcomings and improvement of exhibit labels in fine art museums: Exhibit labels in fine art museums are usually more monotonous in form and content, however, introduction panels have much richer information. Labels are sometimes positioned too law or too high therefore, cause reading hindrance. Try to use multiple forms and font types to increase attraction, and manipulate different level of captions to organize the contents. Besides, “Hypertext” and comparison questions can enhance interaction and variation of the contents; all these should be done within the best reading section. 3.Shortcomings and improvement of exhibit labels in scientific museums: Overloaded information, ill-hyphened proper nouns or names, obscure meaning of captions, lack of textual organization, improper placement of labels, interference of different audio equipment, construction material that decreases readability. To remedy, only place most important information on the labels, and leave others to leaflets and guidebooks. In addition, captions must be succinct, figures should not interfere with text; positing labels within the moving course, taking advantages of headphones or lengthen the space between installations, and avoiding transparent materials for panels. 4.Future developments of museum exhibit labels: Introductory: Labels that acquaint the audience with basic knowledge of the background of the objects. Instructive: Labels that enlighten the audience who wish to attain deeper knowledge about the exhibits. Informative: Labels that grant the audience quick access to related information about the objects or exhibits for his/her further study.