The red carpet has been rolled out and there’s a crowd milling about the bar, eyes darting towards the Queensland Museum doors (11 December).
If it weren’t for the excited looks towards a currently locked door, this could be any Christmas party in Brisbane. As soon as the doors open, though, it’s on. The crowd moves, synchronised like they’ve spent years perfecting it, towards the Museum.
The Queensland Museum’s latest exhibition, ‘Medieval Power’, has a lot of people very excited. This is the first time these items have been displayed together, and the first time many have left the British Museum. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for history buffs to get close to a wealth of Medieval artefacts ranging from jewellery and weapons, to the items that made daily life that little bit easier.
Image © Kylie Thompson
Like all of the Museum’s major exhibitions in recent times, ‘Medieval Power’ has its own series of ‘After Dark’ events on offer, giving adults the opportunity to explore the exhibit and to partake in an ever-changing range of presentations, events, and entertainment.
Image © Queensland Museum
So much of what we wear and the reasons we wear it today, and so many of the stories we tell, are inspired by this time in history. In fact, many of the religious beliefs of the time are still impacting the modern world.
We are intimately connected to the past, and exploring the way history lives on in our own lives is a fascinating way to spend an afternoon. These events aren’t all about the philosophical conundrums, though.
Dan Cox - Image © Kylie Thompson
At the first ‘After Dark’ event, guests were able to watch silversmith Dan Cox creating beautiful pieces inspired by the exhibition, or listen to jewellery designer Christie Nocolaides talking about her love of Medieval-inspired jewellery and its similarities to modern tastes.
DJ Bacon - Image © Queensland Museum
For those wanting a laugh, the showing of ‘Monty Python And The Holy Grail’ was a popular way to rest after exploring the exhibition. But for those up for a dance, DJ Bacon was on hand to keep the tunes coming and the dancers happy. There were Medieval-inspired dishes on offer too, with a beautiful Medieval fruit cake the perfect way to end the meal.
It’s hard to think of a better way to explore the ‘Medieval Power’ exhibition, truth be told, so if you’re in Brisbane between now and April, grab some friends and have fun exploring the past in the air-conditioned comfort of the Queensland Museum.
There are three more ‘After Dark’ events: 29 January, 26 February and 8 April. ‘Medieval Power' runs until 10 April.
