The Archive of Lost Wonders

Magical Realism or Real Magic? The Archive of Lost Wonders Opens Its Doors.

Step into a world where history and imagination intertwine, where ancient myths and modern art coalesce, and where the lines between what’s real and what’s possible blur beyond recognition. The Archive of Lost Wonders is not your average museum. It’s a fictional institution inspired by the Renaissance-era cabinets of curiosities, offering a space that challenges conventional notions of exhibition making, history, and storytelling.

The exhibition will open on March 6th for two weeks, featuring works from: Arthur Poujois; Ylam Deme; Enzo Medeiros; Alessandro Raimondo; William Button; Funmi Lijadu; Scum of the Stars; Ralph Parks; Legge & Braine; Albert Kingsley Meek; Hu Weiqi; Adam Lazarus; Poppy Booth; Grace Lee; and Joel Kerr.

Playing on the public's often blind trust in museums as arbiters of truth, this exhibition invites visitors to question what they believe. How much of what we see in cultural institutions is authentic, and how much is shaped by narrative? By blending fact with fiction, The Archive of Lost Wonders holds up a mirror to the ways museums influence our perception of history and knowledge, reminding us that the truth can be just as constructed as a myth.

The Archive of Lost Wonders’ inaugural exhibition brings together an eclectic collection of works spanning diverse disciplines, including fashion, object d’art, carpentry, glasswork, painting, tattoo art, and photography. But what makes this exhibition truly unique is its narrative approach: each artist’s work is accompanied by a fictional, historically-inspired account penned by the curators, Stella Smith of Izena Gallery and Noor de Falco of Studio DEFA. These stories, compiled into a faux cultural anthropology book, fuse meticulous historical and cultural research with elements of mysticism, situating the artists’ real-life origins and practices within an alternate art history.

Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in a tapestry of ancient superstitions, folklore, and unexplained phenomena. From enchanted relics to uncanny portraits, each piece vibrates with a sense of magic, leaving audiences questioning the authenticity and origins of what they encounter. Yet, the names, certain biographical details, and practices of the artists remain accessible, grounding the fantastical in reality and reminding viewers of the interplay between imagination and fact.

At its core, The Archive of Lost Wonders is a celebration of the unknown, the absurd, and the power of storytelling. It’s an exploration of art as both a reflection of cultural memory and a vessel for boundless creativity. Whether you leave believing in magical realism or real magic, one thing is certain: this is an experience that will ignite your curiosity and challenge your sense of wonder. Prepare to be surprised.

Curated by Stella Smith & Noor de Falco