Alba museums tell the story of art and archaeology through comics

Telling the story of the works preserved in Alba’s museums to create new experiences suitable for all ages: this is the project GULP! SPLASH! BANG! Digital stories in comics conceived by Mudi - Diocesan Museum of Alba that involved the museums of the Sistema Museale Albese (the Federico Eusebio Civic Museum, the church of San Domenico and the church of San Giuseppe). The project was designed to help the public of Alba’s museums understand content, art and history in a fun and innovative way, and to introduce these realities to an increasing number of visitors.

It was therefore thought to bring comics into play. In Gulp! Splash! Bang! Comics digital stories, digital illustrations and videos meet art, archaeology and older history to create new content that tells the story of the works preserved in Alba’s museums and the history of the area. The illustrations were created by Boban Pesov, artist, cartoonist and content creator. Boban combines manual and creative skills with knowledge of architectural studies.

Twenty-six digital cartoon stories were created, video-pills lasting only a few minutes that, thanks to Boban Pesov’s voice and pencil, accompany the audience through Alba’s museums in a light, flowing style that is understandable to the youngest children and engaging to young people and adults. You can see them at this link.

Boban Pesov’s character ventures among the stylophoric lions, Roman temples and theaters, medieval cathedrals and Gothic frescoes, to interpret individual artifacts preserved only partially or taken out of context in a comprehensive historical view. All this is accompanied by anecdotes and historical events documented by the research work conducted by art historians Silvia Gallarato (director of the Diocesan Museum), Martina Marucco and archaeologist Marianna Ceppa, displayed with Boban’s informal register.

These stories can be read, listened to, and watched at any time and place. In fact, they are available online and for free on the Mudi Alba YouTube channel. They are grouped into different digital paths that will allow people to discover the city of Alba virtually, traveling through time and meeting animals, characters and architecture from different eras.

In Alba’s museums, it will be possible to scan QRcodes placed near the works and thus enjoy an interactive experience. Thanks to the cooperation of a heterogeneous team in skills and the use of quality digital technologies, a surprising (Gulp!), disruptive (Splash!) and explosive (Bang!) project was born.

Digital director is Virginia Messina, content creator and CEO of Blue Monkey Studio who, with the support of the professionals already mentioned, oversaw the repurposing of the content, the filming and editing of the videos, and the creation of the website and YouTube channel on which the videos can also be enjoyed remotely.

Archaeologists and arthistorians took care of the art-historical content and together with Boban Pesov held eight workshops organized in the four museum realities. The illustrator also involved Alba and local schools with ten lectures and took them to the museums. During these meetings, carried out free of charge thanks to the contribution of the CRC Foundation, the aim was to experiment with the use of digital comic tales with the aim of explaining complex concepts of archaeology and art, and to see how video and the language of comics are capable of capturing the attention of young participants, creating interest and curiosity about the works preserved in the museums. Finally, the drawing workshop led by Boban Pesov, the illustration of a character or object seen during the visit, became the common thread between the children and the museum.

The project was supported by the CRC Foundation, and for a part also by 8xmille and the Ministry of Culture.

For more info you can visit https://www.visitmudi.it/gulp-splash-bang-racconti-digitali-a-fumetti/

Alba museums tell the story of art and archaeology through comics

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