If works of art could talk, what might we learn?

A Hare in the Forest, Hans Hoffmann, German, about 1585

We created this fun audio tour that allows nine animals depicted in the Getty Museum’s collection to speak for themselves. Designed for families and anyone with a sense of fun, the audio brings animals in diverse paintings, decorative arts, and sculpture to life. Listeners learn the “when, where, why and how” of the objects in a fresh, whimsical, yet informative way.

Each work of art features a different animal’s voice, complete with a distinctive accent and personality.

YOUNG BOAR

A small bronze boar invites listeners to look closely at the details of his fur to explain the technical process of chasing bronze, comparing it to how listeners can make marks in a chocolate bar with their fingernails.

PAIR OF LIONS

In this audio stop, two carved lions that support opposite ends of a carved wood Renaissance chest describe how they were made from walnut trees–plus how they had to be separated for a “time out.”

Chest, attributed to Antonio Maffei, Italian, 1550 – 1600, carved walnut

PROJECT
Produced for The J. Paul Getty Museum galleries of Medieval and Renaissance Sculpture and Decorative Arts in 2010.

FORMAT
Family audio tour

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Producer: Paco Link
Writer: Nina Diamond
Editor: Maria Gilbert

RECOGNITION
Media and Technology MUSE Award (Silver), American Association of Museums. Judges said:

This project was by far the best audio tour in terms of meeting a perceived audience need. This really encouraged children to engage directly with artworks. Clever questioning and well-narrated content encourages them to look deeply into the processes of developing artworks. The different approaches for each painting added interest and help keep their attention, while making the tour light-hearted with a sense of fun. A very good example of what a great audio tour should be when designed by a cross-disciplinary team for a specific audience.