The Dutch Royal House of Oranje is almost 200 years old and more than a century of that period has been recorded in motion picture. The exhibition area, measuring 500 m2, has been fitted with man-sized projection-screens showing pictures of the Royal House, divided into several themes: sports, mourning, work, battle and celebrations with Oranje.
In the middle, two rooms have been delimited. One of these focuses on the the tasks (work) of the Oranjes, the other on family (private life). The subject shown on the borderline is the Oranje’s relations with the press, with a special focus on scandals, satire and secrets revealed. At the centre of the space themed ‘the tasks’, is a monumental table depicting three subthemes: state banquets, meetings and ceremonies. Suspended above the table is a large light-sculpture.
In the ‘family’ space a compilation is shown of films at the hand of Prince Bernard. Groups are, under the supervision of a public attendant, admitted into this room in specific time intervals so they can test their knowledge of etiquette at a specially made game. The virtual control is in the hands of Reinildis van Dithuyzen; she provides the introductions and assesses visitors’ knowledge on the basis of multiple topics: table setting, seating arrangement, titles and conversation.
All footage in the exhibition was taken from the archives of Sound and Vision and composed into a new visual story by director Menno Otten.