ORBIS PICTUS REVISED

a project by Milos Vojtechovsky and Tjebbe van Tijen

Imaginary Museum Projects

Amsterdam 1993
June 22 - August 22

During the summer months, the interactive installation 'Orbis Pictus Revised' will be open. This installation is inspired by the seventeenth-century textbook 'Orbis Sensualis Pictus' by the Czech theologian, philosopher and educator, Johann Comenius. Comenius lived in Amsterdam from 1656 until his death in 1670.

With its ingenious uses and combinations of text and image, the , published in 1658, was a revolution pedagogy and the visual presentation of knowledge. The book was the inspiration for subsequent picture dictionaries and illustrated encyclopedias published in the ensuing three centuries;over two hundred interpretations and editions of the book have appeared.

The installation 'Orbis Pictus Revised' allows the viewer to see changes in the representation of the world from the sixteenth century until the present. The installation allows visitors to look at, listen to and even to hold the emblematic objects depicted in the 'Orbis Sensualis Pictus'. For people age 8 to 88.


Location
De Waag -- Theatrum Anatomicum, Nieuwmarkt, Amsterdam, 020-557.9898
Hours: 22 June t/m 22 August 1996, Tuesday through Sunday 11:00 to 17.00.
Entrance fee: fl. 7,50 / fl. 5,- (CJP, 65+, MJK and children up to 12 years).

Orbis Pictus Revised
Milos Vojtechovsky and Tjebbe van Tijen.
With the help of: Rolf Pixley, Marijke Griffioen and Bart Haensel, Bas Berck and Edith van Berkel.
Pieter Boersma, Frank Hoogveld and Gert-Jan Leusink, Prof. Heesakkkers, Fred Gales and Robert Bosch.

Organisation
The Society of Old and New Media, Zentrum für Kunst und Technologie, ZKM Karlsruhe/Medienmuseum, Imaginary Museum Projects.

With thanks to
Amsterdam Funding for the Arts; Ministry OC&W, Department of Education Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica Amsterdam, University Library of Amsterdam, Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel, Stadtbibliothek Nuernberg, National Library of Prague.