Art and artifact : the museum as medium

During the last half century many artists have turned their attention to a reapraisal of the ideas and systems of classification traditionally associated with curatorship and display. Traditional methods of taxonomy , archiving, storage and other aspects of curatorship have been variously appropriated , mimicked or reinterpreted. Many artists have exhibited their collections as an entity or a 'museum', contributing to a fresh understanding of the nature and role of the museum. The increasing trend towards collaborations between practising artists and museum curators has in some cases involved the rehanging of existing collections or redesigning gallery spaces. This publication serves as a guide to the position and likely future role of the museum at the beginning of the 21st century, whether within the walls of an institutional building or in the broader context of the urban environment.