In the last months, all over the world people have been celebrating 200 years since the birth of Charles Darwin, the great naturalist, geologist and thinker. In celebration of this occasion, on the 3rd of April I had the opportunity to visit the “Darwin’s Evolution” exhibition that also commemorates the 150th anniversary of the publication of his masterpiece – “The Origin of the Species”. This fantastic exhibition is taking place in one of the most emblematic museums of Lisbon – the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, where incredible surprises lie in store for all visitors.
The Charles Darwin exhibition examines the life and labour of this man whose work has changed the way we view and study our world and how we think. Charles Darwin’s theory transformed the manner in which we understand the origin and the nature of species on Earth. The exhibition also gives the visitor a brilliant insight into Charles Darwin’s life as a family man. An extraordinarily talented man beyond his time, with a great curiosity for nature, Darwin combined his thirst of adventure with a prosperous family life.
When visiting the exhibition you can expect to see very different types of visitors. Two helpful ladies together replied my query as to why they had come to the exhibition, explaining that they wanted to know more about what had motivated Darwin to travel around the world and make such outstanding discoveries. They left the museum having discovered a brave young man with an intrepid spirit behind the photographs of Darwin with his long white beard.
Aside from the exhibition, it is interesting to observe the human dynamics contained within the museum. At the beginning people were crowded together in the entrance to the exhibition, everyone wanting to observe all the details. However, in general people were considerate to others and did not spend too much time in the reading of descriptions and the observation of exhibits. There is a calm atmosphere within the museum which provides the space for reflection required of museums and exhibitions like this one. Everyone is welcome. It is particularly fascinating to see the affection and concern that parents take to explain something so scientific and complicated to their children. Even parents with restless four and five years old were trying to explaining the details to their children, who would undoubtedly have forgotten the theoretical explanation; more interested in the spectacular samples of exotic animals.
As you move through the exhibition you will be increasingly surprised by the quality of the collection. Amongst the exhibits there is the chance to view some rare specimens and artefacts. Furthermore you can see an impressive reconstruction of Darwin's office, some parts of the Galapagos Islands and their fauna, a miniature of the Beagle ship, computer interactive activities, documentaries, films, incredible fossils, skeletons and skulls, letters written by Darwin himself, an exemplar of Darwin’s travel diary and even a miniature zoo.
For all these reasons and in order to discover why Darwin’s name is of such importance, it is really worth visiting this exhibition which will be on display until May 24th.
The Charles Darwin exhibition examines the life and labour of this man whose work has changed the way we view and study our world and how we think. Charles Darwin’s theory transformed the manner in which we understand the origin and the nature of species on Earth. The exhibition also gives the visitor a brilliant insight into Charles Darwin’s life as a family man. An extraordinarily talented man beyond his time, with a great curiosity for nature, Darwin combined his thirst of adventure with a prosperous family life.
When visiting the exhibition you can expect to see very different types of visitors. Two helpful ladies together replied my query as to why they had come to the exhibition, explaining that they wanted to know more about what had motivated Darwin to travel around the world and make such outstanding discoveries. They left the museum having discovered a brave young man with an intrepid spirit behind the photographs of Darwin with his long white beard.
Aside from the exhibition, it is interesting to observe the human dynamics contained within the museum. At the beginning people were crowded together in the entrance to the exhibition, everyone wanting to observe all the details. However, in general people were considerate to others and did not spend too much time in the reading of descriptions and the observation of exhibits. There is a calm atmosphere within the museum which provides the space for reflection required of museums and exhibitions like this one. Everyone is welcome. It is particularly fascinating to see the affection and concern that parents take to explain something so scientific and complicated to their children. Even parents with restless four and five years old were trying to explaining the details to their children, who would undoubtedly have forgotten the theoretical explanation; more interested in the spectacular samples of exotic animals.
As you move through the exhibition you will be increasingly surprised by the quality of the collection. Amongst the exhibits there is the chance to view some rare specimens and artefacts. Furthermore you can see an impressive reconstruction of Darwin's office, some parts of the Galapagos Islands and their fauna, a miniature of the Beagle ship, computer interactive activities, documentaries, films, incredible fossils, skeletons and skulls, letters written by Darwin himself, an exemplar of Darwin’s travel diary and even a miniature zoo.
For all these reasons and in order to discover why Darwin’s name is of such importance, it is really worth visiting this exhibition which will be on display until May 24th.
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