Exhibition as Medium - From the Dematerialized Exhibitions of the 1960s to Today’s Virtual Exhibitions

This study reexamines virtual exhibitions—whose presence expanded rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic—through the lens of “Exhibition as a Medium.” During the pandemic, museums, galleries, and art fairs increasingly adopted virtual formats utilizing VR and AR technologies as primary alternatives to physical exhibitions, and interest in such formats has persisted beyond the crisis. Consequently, virtual exhibitions require reevaluation not merely as supplementary tools but as integral components of contemporary exhibition practices. This study situates virtual exhibitions not only within a technological context but also within art-historical and discursive genealogies, analyzing their continuities and divergences from actual exhibitions. Drawing on the media theories of Yuk Hui and Adeena Mey, this research explores the ontological position of exhibition media. Furthermore, it examines virtual exhibitions in relation to the dematerialization and de-exhibition trends of the 1960s–1990s, arguing that rather than replacing traditional exhibition media, they engage in a process of “remediation.” Ultimately, this study positions virtual exhibitions within the historical trajectory of exhibition medium, shedding new light on their expanding role and their artistic and medial significance.