Ogam script on stone at the British Museum, London (2248) February 2006 | Another

Tourist View
A visit to the British Museum can lead to a series of unexpected thoughts.
The idea of the British Museum began in the middle of the 18th century with an interest in collecting objects and Natural History.
This is a picture of a memorial slab carved with Ogam script in the 5th century AD standing next to a 5th century BC influenced Ionic column under a 21st century tessellated glass roof.
How can we make sense of this place?
This grand building and these special objects can leave the occasional visitor, the tourist, feeling elated, overwhelmed and even insignificant. But the people who run museums probably think they are illuminating and even informing the people. So often we can be left feeling like tourists.

Posted on 2/12/2006 10:30:35 PM | Comments

1. Posted by angie on 2/12/2006 2:41:32 PM
So monolithic.. I really like this image Tony.

2. Posted by stewart on 2/12/2006 3:17:26 PM
I like the angle of this shot Tony,nice take.

3. Posted by tony on 2/12/2006 3:40:37 PM
Angie, hi and thank you - museums can also seem a little oppressive.

4. Posted by tony on 2/12/2006 3:53:36 PM
Hi Stewart, thanks. I was trying to construct an image that related to just light and form, but the significant content subordinates the form.

5. Posted by Robert K. on 2/12/2006 8:58:01 PM
Very nice post Tony :-)

6. Posted by robert on 2/13/2006 2:31:02 AM
nice shot, with old ogam and new fluting

7. Posted by twig on 2/13/2006 12:20:41 PM
We are all tourists travelling in some way, shape or form.
We take from the journey what we want, or think we want and leave the rest behind.
Why 'make sense'?
A sriking image and thought provoking comment.

8. Posted by Tom on 2/15/2006 8:37:11 AM
A fascinating photographic composition.

9. Posted by Rosey on 2/15/2006 9:43:55 PM
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10. Posted by tony on 2/16/2006 3:45:40 AM
Hi Robert K, thank you.

11. Posted by tony on 2/16/2006 4:33:35 AM
Robert, thank you. It's difficult to understand why this Ogam stone should sit next to an Ionic column, under a steel and glass roof in this Great Court in central London.

12. Posted by tony on 2/16/2006 4:43:24 AM
Hi Tom, thanks. The aim of this photographic exercise with the Nomads at the British Museum was to concentrate on a composition of light and form.

13. Posted by tony on 2/16/2006 4:46:47 AM
OK Rosey

14. Posted by tony on 2/16/2006 7:09:24 AM
Hi twig, I agree that we take from the life journey what we can - but within the walls of the musuem the tourist usually has little time to take in or even assimilate the experience, but maybe that is what being a tourist is about! Leading on from this thought I suspect I would also want to balance out this consuming tendency and give something back - but that probably has more to do with learning ways of sustainable thinking.

15. Posted by Daddy S. on 2/17/2006 7:27:06 AM
Super