Paper Brains: An Experiential Exhibition of Human Brain Representations

Unveiling the Layers of the Mind in a Unique Exhibition

Paper Brains is an experiential exhibition that invites visitors to explore the history of human brain depictions in books and prints. Designed by Danne Ojeda, this unique exhibition transforms the gallery space into a captivating "book page" where visitors can literally walk on the margins and text of the page.

The exhibition features black wooden boxes that house layered representations of the human brain. These boxes serve as interactive exhibits, allowing visitors to browse through the images and discover the intricate details of brain representations throughout different epochs. From Andreas Vesalius' groundbreaking anatomical illustrations in the Renaissance to modern Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Paper Brains showcases the evolution of our understanding of the human brain.

One of the highlights of the exhibition is a recreation of a fugitive sheet or a flap book spread. Visitors can lift the layers of the fugitive sheets to reveal hidden information, adding an element of surprise and discovery to the experience.

The exhibition design cleverly incorporates the building number, 15, as the page number of this "book page" in space. This attention to detail showcases the thoughtfulness and creativity behind the design.

Creating an exhibition about historical books presented its own set of challenges. To ensure the preservation of the rare books, all materials had to be recreated from scratch. The result is a visually stunning and informative exhibition that brings the history of human brain representations to life.

Paper Brains was exhibited at the Book & Manuscript Studies gallery at the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The project, which started in June 2017 and finished in July 2017, was a collaboration between Danne Ojeda, Lisa Kuitert, and the Special Collections Library at the University of Amsterdam.

The innovative design of Paper Brains has been recognized with the prestigious Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design category. This award celebrates designs that demonstrate creativity, resourcefulness, and a commitment to improving the quality of life through art, science, design, and technology.

Step into the world of human brain representations with Paper Brains and embark on a journey through the pages of history.