A UNIQUE
DESTINATION
In the PANEUM – Wunderkammer of Bread, pioneering architecture meets age-old stories about bread, told by the impressive pieces of the backaldrin collection.
Egyptian corn mummies and toy cars, Peruvian totem poles and Meissen porcelain, Chinese granaries, guild equipment, paintings and thousands of books – the collection that forms the foundation of the PANEUM spans not only the ages, but also the world. On the one hand, the exhibition takes us on a journey through time and space, from the probably accidental “invention” of bread in the Neolithic period to the Egyptian sophistication and Roman efficiency, mediaeval bakers’ pride and modern industrialisation to today’s almost immeasurable bread diversity. On the other hand, the collection depicts how the journey of bread begins in the grain fields and continues through the mills and bakeries to our homes. The stations along this route have not changed over the millennia, yet nothing has remained the same. You can discover all this in the PANEUM.
Experience pioneering architecture
The tour through the PANEUM is also an architectural journey of discovery. At the beginning, new accessions and curiosities await on the ground floor. The “finest of the finest” are artfully staged in the stairwell. A sweeping gaze upward catches beautiful exhibits floating in mid-air. The journey begins at ground level and extends upward from the concrete base through the impressive cantilevered staircase to the “cloud ship”, which is made entirely of wood on the inside. Along this way, you can discover stories and the history of bread, brought to life by individual exhibits.
Discover the Wunderkammer!
The exhibition in the PANEUM was modelled on the concept of a Wunderkammer, which originated in 16th century Italy as “gabinetto delle curiosit curiosità” or “mirabilia”. The rarities and curiosities on display often had nothing more in common than the collector himself. It was about the perspective that the collector had, the knowledge he displayed and the stories he told about the objects. Thus, the collection is characterised by its unique mixture, not by strictly scientific criteria. Uli Prugger and Alfonso Demetz from GRUPPE GUT about the design: “In the presentation of the themes and exhibits, we focus on a mixture of discovery and information, amazement and job-related knowledge. The result is an element of surprise, opening not only mouths but also minds.”
Making noise is part of the trade
