The Whole Shebang

The Whole Shebang seeks to question what it means to collect and the principles and policies in place around such an act. Who decides what is worth preserving and what isn’t? What happens when the trajectory of a collection changes? Is there a point when collections overstep their mandate? For the duration of this research project, the vaults will be emptied and every work in Cambridge Art Galleries’ collection of 200+ works will be on display simultaneously and all within the same gallery space. Drawing attention to the volume of works as well as the tools and materials used to protect them, Cambridge Art Galleries is not only displaying a collection spanning 30 years but presenting an opportunity to rethink what it means to collect, the policies around such an enterprise, the logistics of objecthood, and whether or not collecting should still be a relevant and active practice.