Over the past two decades, digital technologies have been changing the way we use and relate to spaces—especially public ones—which are increasingly mediated by networks and devices that allow us to position ourselves in new ways. In May of this year, during the global week of events for Museum Day, promoted by the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the theme Hyperconnected museums: New approaches, new publics was adopted as the motto for the 2018 edition's debate series. This initiative aimed to discuss the relationship between museums as institutions and society through the lens of digital connectivity, both in terms of physical space organization and interaction with the public.
In the wake of the debates held in museums worldwide, it became clear that institutions are increasingly focused on building a network with their audience, a feat made possible through technology. Indeed, conceiving an exhibition, as well as the museum as an object within the urban environment, also means imagining the possibilities for audience interaction. This makes it inevitable to compare how viewers used to relate to artworks with how this dynamic has shifted in the so-called “Selfie Era.”
