Ideum, an experiential designer of interactive exhibits, collaborated with exhibit designers, curators at the New Mexico Museum of Art, and local artists to create a unique introduction for Gustave Baumann: The Artist’s Environment, an exhibition showcasing the printmaker’s connections to New Mexico's land and communities.
This digital exhibit reproduces Baumann’s playful marionette performances, offering a theatrical introduction to his work.
Gustave Baumann arrived in New Mexico in 1918 and became a beloved artist and cultural figure in Santa Fe. Known for his woodblock prints, Baumann was also a prolific painter, sculptor, drawer, marionette maker, and furniture maker.
Gustave Baumann: The Artist’s Environment presents a detailed study of his work, examining his interactions with his physical, cultural, and creative surroundings. Spanning his entire career, the exhibition organises his art thematically and critically examines key concepts through various perspectives.
Custom-designed digital displays
Along the entry corridor, three custom-designed digital displays—each resembling a small proscenium stage—display sequential animated scenes that guide visitors toward the main gallery.
These vignettes feature a whimsical cast inspired by Baumann’s puppet creations: two humans, Warts and Freckles; a slow-moving donkey called Miguelito; and a fiery dragon.
Ideum collaborated with the staff of the New Mexico Museum of Art, who recreate the marionette show during the holiday season. The museum supplied the script and recorded the audio content featured in the show.
Ideum's 3D artists carefully recreated each puppet digitally, drawing from Baumann’s original handcrafted marionettes and archival footage of his performances. The animation captures the delicate timing, humour, and expressive movements characteristic of Baumann’s puppet shows.
This approach combines traditional craftsmanship with modern digital storytelling, revitalising these century-old characters in a new medium while maintaining their handmade essence.
Each vignette is carefully synchronised, permitting characters to move seamlessly across the three displays within a single, continuous narrative. As visitors walk through the hallway, the story develops, set against digitally painted backdrops inspired by Baumann’s prints.
The looping digital exhibit, although it contains no text, offers a playful and engaging introduction to the Baumann exhibit.
Bringing the project to life
The physical design of the installation aligns with its content, featuring sculpted frames that evoke vintage puppet theatre architecture with draped curtains and warm wood tones, seamlessly integrating with the exhibition’s aesthetic.
The scenic elements were supplied by Stark Raven Fabrication in Santa Fe. Internally, Ideum’s team installed custom playback hardware and precise synchronisation software to achieve seamless transitions and a cohesive narrative across the three stations.
These animated vignettes function as both artwork and introduction, seamlessly expanding Baumann’s creative universe. They gently guide visitors from daily life into the imaginative realm of the exhibit.
Earlier this year, Ideum, together with the USS Missouri Memorial Association, celebrated the launch of Pathway to Peace: USS Missouri’s World War II Experience in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
