/ 20 October 2006

Museum treads carefully with Titanic exhibition

London’s Science museum is quite aware that some view an exhibition of artefacts salvaged from the Titanic as tantamount to grave robbing: the museum took the unusual step of consulting its visitors before agreeing to mount the exhibition.Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition, billed as ”real objects, real stories”, which will open at the museum in May, includes a 2,5-tonnesection of the Titanic‘s hull, the ship’s bell rung too late to warn of the iceberg that ripped the hull like a can opener, as well as dozens of personal possessions including clothes, jewellery and documents, once owned by the ship’s 2 228 passengers.All were brought up from the grave of the ship by RMS Titanic Inc, the commercial firm that has mounted six dives to the wreck, most recently in 2000, and recovered more than 6 000 artefacts. The exhibition is one of three touring shows created by the Texas-based Clear Channel Exhibitions, in association with the recovery firm.When dives began, some survivors, and many relatives of those who died, were opposed to disturbing the wreck — although others were eager to see physical evidence of the disaster.Jon Tucker, head of the Science museum, said on March 5 the exhibition would not be mere showmanship, but ”one of the most serious ever mounted by this museum”.”The overwhelming response was that people were extremely interested in the subject, but only if it was dealt with in a serious way.”The display includes mock-ups of the first-class interiors, and a real iceberg, as well as video of the sub diving to the wreck. Visitors aregiven a ticket with a passenger’s name and can check his or her fate before they leave.Mark Lach, one of the designers of the exhibition, who was also a member of the most recent dive team, said: ”The exhibition is not being done in any sensational or voyeuristic way. It is done in a way which is very dignified and respectful of the memory of those who lost their lives.” He ruled out the threat which many of the relatives have found most distressing, that the actual wreck would one day be raised. ”After 90 years, at such extraordinary pressure, it is simply dropping to pieces on the seabed: I do not believe there is any realistic possibility that it could ever be brought to the surface.” —