ArtiFACTS of Belief: The Collection of Charles Denison Aldridge

Drawing from the tradition of institutional critique, ArtiFACTS of Belief challenges visitors’ notions of the authority and objective knowledge presented by the museum.

Presented through the personal collection of Charles Denison Aldridge, an affluent Victorian gentleman, this exhibition invites questions about the trustworthiness of the traditional display methods used in natural history museums.

An archetypical collector, Charles Denison Aldridge’s fascination with the natural world led him to the four corners of the globe in search of unusual and unbelievable specimens. This unique natural history collection includes zoological and geological specimens as well as extraordinary skeletons.

The presentation of these specimens within the constructed narrative of this collector, challenges our perception of natural history displays.

ArtiFACTS of Belief reveals the questions that remain prevalent within museum practice: how are artifacts valued, what is objective knowledge and who has authority?

This exhibition is produced as part of the requirements for the Faculty of Information, Museum Studies Program degree at the University of Toronto.