Turning numbers into hands-on stories
Under the key question "What do decades of German reunification mean for East Germany?", a statistical review of more than 30 years of reunification is presented at the end of the exhibition tour. In close collaboration with the museum's curators, the underlying data and content were moulded into narrative strands and staged expansively. 11 large monitors surround the visitor in a U-shape, creating an abstract virtual landscape.
Narrative strands are staged in whichever direction the visitors look, for topics such as internal migration, representation in leadership positions or living conditions in East and West. These are illuminated - in vivid images and visualisations, underpinned by statistical evaluations and diagrams. In this way, the figures become trends, positions and points of gravity.
The content shown is dynamically generated from extensive data sets in real time and immediately played out live. It is therefore always possible to update the content and add new chapters to the narrative. The answer to the question "What do decades of German reunification mean for East Germany?" can therefore always be updated.
Questions in the room and beyond
In addition to the question "What do decades of German reunification mean for East Germany?", there are many other questions about the ongoing transformation processes that can be experienced in a second media installation at the end of the exhibition. In the form of an island of light, this forms the pivotal element in the centre of the exhibition space.
The circular platform with a diameter of 4 meters, surrounded by a controllable light strip, serves as an impressive stage during events. During exhibitions, it becomes an eye-catching visual highlight thanks to the targeted use of two powerful, combined projectors that project an image onto it.
The projection forms a hands-on cloud of colour from which thought-provoking questions rise up and speak directly to visitors. Once they have circled the pedestal, these questions disappear into a stele positioned next to it. At this stele, visitors have the opportunity to print the questions on a strip of paper at the touch of a button and take them with them to continue their exploration of the topic even after their visit to the museum.
Voices and opinions
Additionally, smaller media stations have been set up throughout the exhibition area to complement the permanent exhibition with multimedia. Here, reports and opinions on the various events in the transformation process are presented in interview form.
There are also interactive survey stations that allow visitors to actively participate and help convey an up-to-date overview of the general mood through statistical analyses.
