Paper short abstract

The paper will discuss two temporary exhibitions focused on the Amazonian region organised by the British Museum, Hidden Peoples from the Amazon (1985) and Unknown Amazon (2001).

Paper long abstract

The paper will discuss two temporary exhibitions focused on the Amazonian region organised by the British Museum, Hidden Peoples from the Amazon (1985) and Unknown Amazon (2001). The first exhibition, which took place at the Museum of Mankind, drawn extensively from visual/historical sources from both the 19th and mid 20th century to construct life-size dioramas, while the second put forward the archaeological argument of a deeper history of occupation in the region, drawing from recent archaeological research. The first exhibition was involved in a controversy over their (mis)representation of the contemporary life of indigenous peoples, which also played a role in the development of the subsequent exhibition. The paper will also discuss the role of controversies in the shaping exhibition practices.