From Margins to Center: How Exhibition Labels Shape Cultural Hierarchies in Contemporary Art Museums
Abstract
This study investigates how exhibition labels in contemporary art museums contribute to the construction and reinforcement of cultural hierarchies through both language and spatial design. While museums are often perceived as neutral repositories of knowledge, they are in fact sites where power operates subtly, shaping visitors’ perceptions of cultural value. Drawing on Foucault’s concept of knowledge/power and Lefebvre’s theory of the production of space, this research focuses on the geographical dimension of cultural hierarchies, specifically the divide between Western art and non-Western art. The analysis is based on qualitative case studies of selected contemporary art museums, combining textual analysis of exhibition labels with spatial mapping of display layouts. Findings reveal that label phrasing, narrative framing, and spatial positioning often privilege artistic traditions from Western art, while relegating works from non-Western art to marginal positions in both language and space. The study also identifies emerging curatorial strategies that decentralize authority and promote more inclusive, decolonial exhibition practices.
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