MAGMAH ___ GENEVA MUSEUM OF ART AND HISTORY
CGI images, 3D scanYEAR 2023
ART DIRECTION, CGI, PRODUCTION Mélanie Courtinat
Renowned for its collection of historical and archaeological artifacts, the Museum of Art and History of Geneva invited Mélanie Courtinat to explore its galleries and engage with its collection in a contemporary way. During this project, she conducted a series of 3D scans of selected weapons and pieces of armor, capturing their intricate details and material presence with high precision. Using video game development tools, she then created virtual environments in which these digital relics could be recontextualized and staged, offering a new, speculative reading of the museum's heritage through the lens of interactive media and world-building. These reimagined scenes were published in MAGMAH, the museum's editorial platform dedicated to exploring the intersection of art, history, and modern creative practices.
The project reflects on how emerging technologies can transform our relationship with cultural heritage, extending its reach, reshaping its narrative potential, and allowing it to circulate beyond institutional walls.As part of a broader gesture toward open access and creative reuse, Mélanie also released the 3D scans online via specialized asset banks. These files are now freely available to other artists, designers, and developers, encouraging new forms of appropriation and dialogue across disciplines.
