Goppion, a leader in the design, construction, assembly and installation of cutting-edge display cases and installations, has once again worked with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, to produce 282 tailor-made display cases for the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas (AOAA) collection in the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing.
The Rockefeller Wing reopened last week, following a $70 million renovation which began in 2021. The project seeks to elevate the visitor experience and features a bespoke sloped glass wall facing Central Park, which improves natural lighting, and reorganised AOAA department that offers a stronger regional and historical narrative.
The company has a longstanding relationship with the Met and has previously contributed to projects such as the renewal of the British Galleries for the museum’s 150th anniversary, and the Northern Renaissance Sculpture and Decorative Arts Gallery, which reopened to the public in October 2023.
Contemporary approach
The Rockefeller Wing has seen numerous changes since it opened in 1982 to house Nelson A. Rockefeller’s collection of African, Oceanic, and Ancient American art, which now includes more than 11,000 works and spans 3,000 years. As the collection has expanded and curatorial approaches have advanced, the wing has also grown and evolved.
The most recent refurbishment aims to significantly elevate the display and preservation of the AOAA’s culturally significant art and artefacts.
With exhibition design by WHY Architecture, over 1,800 objects will be shown in innovative displays that convey contemporary perspectives. This approach will focus on the autonomy and cultural significance of each region’s artistic traditions, eschewing archaic classifications such as “primitive art”.
Goppion created 282 bespoke display cases to meet the client’s varied requirements due to the wide range of materials and artistic forms in the collection. The company collaborated closely with WHY Architecture to guarantee that aesthetic and technical requirements were seamlessly integrated.
Display cases include freestanding, wall-standing, and wall-hung models, which are designed to be airtight while also allowing airflow if needed. The project included a large, 23.5-foot case with two doors and a central sliding door, and an 18-foot-tall wall-standing case with two doors and a glass top.
“As can often be the case, our biggest challenges were the logistics involved,” says a spokesperson from the company.
“Approximately 40 stone platforms were specially imported from Portugal for the project; some of these featured upper plinths, while all of them had an internal metal structure and integrated systems to securely anchor unstable artworks. The coordination with Portugal, especially regarding shipping logistics, was particularly challenging.
“The two especially large display cases also required a dedicated delivery route at their destination, passing through Central Park and parts of the Museum open to the public, which required a great deal of care and attention to ensure the safety of both the display cases and the public.”
Integrated technology
Visitors to the exhibition can see decorative and ceremonial objects from the Benin Court in Nigeria; sculptures from West and Central Africa; images of deities, ancestors, and spirits from New Guinea, Island Melanesia, Polynesia, and Insular Southeast Asia; and gold, ceramic, and stone items from pre-Columbian cultures of Mexico, Central America, and South America, among other pieces.
“For Goppion, one of the pleasures of a major project like this is being part of the integration of modern museum technology in a historical collection,” says the company. “Our display cases now form part of a reimagined visitor experience that enhances collections legibility, reveals new research, includes state-of-the-art digital and audio enhancements, and celebrates the rich diversity of cultural traditions across these regions.”
Last month, Goppion shared details of its project for Fenix, a new museum about migration in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The attraction marks the first European commission for MAD Architects Beijing, and shows works by renowned contemporary artists such as Francis Alÿs, Steve McQueen, Grayson Perry, Rineke Dijkstra, Kimsooja, Shilpa Gupta, Jeremy Deller, and Danh Võ.
