The interplay of the concepts time, life and narrative guided the entire exhibition which dealt with the initiating urge to understand oneself and to deal with one's own life - the autobiographical consciousness. The recollections of a lifetime presuppose a concept of biographical time that can be represented as cyclical time, linear development or moments of special fullness. Throughout the exhibition one is guided by objects and motifs that gather various themes and problem complexes. The exhibition is introduced by a large gallery of portraits in order to show that we are dealing with people, individuals, but also with the history of individuality. Concepts of the individual, the citizen, and the personality, certainly have three different chronological origins, but all three are the basis of the present.
Objects can express the essence of a single room and can also paticipate in various contexts.
For example the baptismal font is the main object in the room dealing with the individual and Christianity, because, in the past baptism, not birth, marked the transition to life and it remains an important ritual though it's meaning has changed. In other rooms the significance of baptism in relation to other aspects of life is treated - the way the family gathers on baptismal day, what gifts are given and what photographs and objects are kept as souvenirs. The many authentic objects and life stories in the exhibition were meant to be keys to understanding but were also intended to araise feelings. The public should be able to identify with the exhibition but hopefully also be able to challenge preconceived notions. Ph.d.-afhandling om livsaldre og biografier.