World in Words

‘World in Words’ is the Permanent Exhibition of the The Árni Magnússon Collection. This unique collection of manuscripts was inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World register in 2009 following a joint application by Denmark and Iceland. The exhibition is partly a response to the duty such recognition brings, but it is also a passionate ode to the Icelandic traditions of storytelling and writing. Studio MB provided a full exhibition design service for this project, including Narrative and 3D Design, Graphic Design, and Digital Media in collaboration with Freakworks Films.

We are not the first to tell these stories, from Marvel movies to bedtime stories, the tales of the manuscripts have taken on a multitude of lives. It was only by looking past our preconceptions and delving into the source material that we were able to give these stories a new platform, one specifically dedicated to the remarkable manuscripts and illuminations crafted centuries ago. We aimed not to put our own spin on the stories but to allow the visitor to encounter them in their most raw and enigmatic form – to ignite the pages, not rewrite them.

Our designs evoke the tantalising mystery of these stories while celebrating the bold colour and surprising characters that populate their worlds. Nowhere is this clearer than the centrepiece of the exhibition, an immersive AV projection spanning the back wall of the space - this spectacular AV is as wonderfully weird, unexpected and varied as the manuscripts themselves.

There is a rich visual character to the manuscripts that we were committed to centring in this exhibition. From intricate illuminations to quirky marginalia, ornate initials to bold handwritten script, the diverse influence of the pictographic and calligraphic mark making of medieval Iceland can be felt throughout the space. Once trapped within pages too delicate to handle, through this exhibition, the hidden world of the manuscripts frames each book to create unique and joyous encounters.

The Árni Magnússon Institute believes that “sharing and providing access to cultural treasures with the whole of mankind is a duty which transcends national boundaries.” Whilst it was critical that the exhibition offered a depth of knowledge to satisfy the most dedicated academics, it is also the Institute’s first opportunity to extend past its traditional academic patrons and reach the wider Icelandic community and international tourists.