The exhibition "MEMENTO MORI" of the Archaeological Museum in Split in Museum of Ancient Glass in Zadar
As part of the celebration of the 16th anniversary of the Museum of Ancient Glass in Zadar, we are preparing the opening of a large visiting exhibition of the Archaeological Museum in Split. It is the exhibition "MEMENTO MORI. Archaeological Research of the Salona Western Necropolis on the Bypass 1986-1987".
After last year's opening at the Archaeological Museum in Split, the exhibition "MEMENTO MORI" is presented to the Zadar audience with exceptional archaeological artifacts with a design that pays tribute to life and death!
EXHIBITION CONCEPT
While we rush to fulfill our daily obligations, are we aware of the cultural and historical heritage that surrounds us, the history that pulsates beneath our wheels and has a far-reaching impact on our present day. Do we ever remember the people who once lived in these same areas? Are we also aware of our own transience? It is precisely these kinds of thoughts that the exhibition "Memento mori. Archaeological Investigations of the Salona Western Necropolis on the Bypass 1986 – 1987" aims to encourage, which opened its doors on February 21, 2024, at the Archaeological Museum in Split.
One of the most anticipated archaeological exhibitions brings the discoveries of fascinating treasures that archaeologists uncovered during the construction of the "fast" road Solin - Trogir, the so-called Solin bypass, in the 1980s. It took almost 40 years for thousands of extremely valuable archaeological finds to be analyzed, scientifically processed, interpreted and put into context. The focus of the exhibition is on the people - the Salonitans who were buried in the Western Salonitan necropolis, which is partly located under the aforementioned road, but also on the archaeologists who saved their graves with valuable objects from the onslaught of modern needs in the period from October 1986 to November 1987.
We learn about the latter through field photographs that show the dramatic struggle of archaeologists with time and machinery, and the former through the analysis of as many as 615 graves (dating from the 1st to the 6th centuries) and a series of stone monuments. This knowledge has further enriched our understanding of ancient Salona, but also resolved some previous scientific doubts. But a step further has been taken. Using modern technology, the appearance of four people has been reconstructed, and for the first time we are presenting to the public what they looked like.
The exhibition "Memento mori" not only brings the past to life through the story of death and the customs of the Salonitans over six centuries, it also represents a journey through one's own identity, revealing the secrets of the past and connecting them to our present. The found remains become messengers from the past that remind us of the fragility of life, but also the importance of gratitude for the present moment. The Latin saying in the title, which means "Remember death(ness)", therefore becomes a key theme, encouraging visitors to a deeper appreciation of cultural heritage and life in general.
EXHIBITION DESIGN AND VISUAL IDENTITY
In keeping with the Roman concept of the afterlife, the exhibition's visual identity is based on Roman mosaic depictions of "merry skeletons" celebrating life. This choice of visual element allows us to depict death in a more vivid way, inspired by the humorous inscriptions that were often present on the monuments in the Salona Necropolis. Furthermore, the exhibition is not just a collection of objects; it also represents a significant reminder of the culturicide that occurred in 1986-87. In this context, the use of black in the visual identity is a metaphor for the asphalt that covered the historic area of Salona. This choice of neutral color of the exhibition contributes to highlighting the luxurious color of the objects and makes them shine in the full light of their cultural significance.
Interesting specifics of funeral customs, but also the way of life of that time are told through the remains of artifacts found in the graves of the deceased. The design of the exhibition seeks to evoke the connection of these objects with real people, depicting their everyday lives through standard descriptions of the finds. In this way, it is emphasized that these objects were intimate parts of the lives of our predecessors and testify to the diversity of their experiences, both beautiful and challenging. These objects testify to their existence and tell their stories in their final location.
This was also the motive for creating, as part of the exhibition, a spatial installation that shows the audience that in the archaeological research of the Salonitan Western Necropolis on the Bypass, in the period from October 20, 1986 to November 13, 1987, 615 graves were recorded, documented and investigated.
For the people of Salonitan, the grave represented the eternal home of the deceased's soul, which continued to live in the glow of the light of the afterlife.
This art installation consists of 615 silver metal plates that symbolize each grave in the exhibition. The shine of each of these plates reflects the souls of the deceased and pays tribute to them.
The visual identity of the exhibition is signed by the design studio Kazinoti & Komenda, while the design of the display is signed by the design office Clinica studio.
The exhibition can be viewed until February 20, 2026.
