- Global debut of the digitally immersive, 360-degree exhibition Empress Josphine's Garden is in full bloom from today at the WA Maritime Museum, Fremantle
- Empress Josphine's Garden is a compelling digital projection experience bringing to life the influence and legacy of Empress Josphine Bonaparte
- Empress Josphine's Garden is on show from 31 August until 9 February 2025
The global debut of the digitally immersive, 360-degree exhibition Empress Josphine's Garden brings history to life in vibrant colour today at the WA Maritime Museum.
Empress Josphine's Garden is an immersive digital projection experience that charts the influence and legacy of Empress Josphine Bonaparte and her enduring impact on France, botanical science, and global culture, including her relationship with Western Australia
Through vivid storytelling, rich visuals, expert narration, and an emotive soundscape crafted by Australian musicians, this innovative exhibition was commissioned by the Western Australian Museum (WA Museum) and curated and developed by AGB Creative, Sydney.
The exhibition takes the captivating story of the first Empress of France and the connection between French maritime exploration, Western Australia and the spectacular garden Josphine created at her home, Chteau de Malmaison in Paris.
With the Age of Enlightenment as its backdrop, visitors are surrounded by spectacular imagery of Josphine's remarkable garden in Chteau de Malmaison, filled with unique flora and fauna from around the globe, including black swans, kangaroos, and hundreds of exotic plants from Western Australia.
Malmaison became the epicentre of an enlightened world, where politicians, academics and socialites would be immersed within a living museum, surrounded by antipodean treasures and botanical specimens never before seen on French soil.
Empress Josphine's Gardenis on show from 31 August until 9 February 2025. Standard tickets $15 and junior and concession $12.50.
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
"I am delighted to see the WA Maritime Museum collaborating with another renowned Australian creative producer, AGB Creative, to bring such an inspiring and creative digital experience to Western Australia.
"The little-known story of Josphine Bonaparte's legacy and contribution to the Australian and French cultural connection, delivered through this contemporary medium will appeal to a wide range of visitors, including families, history buffs, and digital arts enthusiasts.
"Not only does this exhibition share the interconnection between Western Australia and France, it is also a fantastic example of how digital technology development is changing the way we both consume and share information and storytelling, and the important role museums have in supporting and facilitating this change.
"The WA Museum has been leading digital immersive storytelling since 2018 and, this exhibition is another example of how the Museum is supporting the future screen industry in Western Australia."
Comments to be attributed to Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk:
"It's great to hear that this visually stunning exhibition will be staged at the Fremantle Maritime Museum for the next five months.
"This is another example of the WA Museum embracing technology with the use of digital imagery to immerse the viewer in the artwork. It really is an exciting medium, giving visitors the chance to be part of the artwork and experience it as though they are part of the scene depicted."
