As ROM Evolves, Its Brand Does, Too.
The fall of the Berlin Wall. The rise of social media. Symphonies, pandemics, and burning books. Suspended in water, a nameless baby witnesses all of this—and more—in a sweeping, six-minute film directed by Toronto's Mark Zibert: ROM Immortal.
"ROM Immortal captures both the many ways people's lives diverge and the fundamental human experience that binds us all together—even across epochs and oceans," said Josh Basseches, Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) Director & CEO.
Since its debut on June 9, 2022, the provocative film has netted more than 93,000 views on YouTube alone. And after an overwhelming response from online audiences, the film became an installation at the Museum in August.
While a work of art in its own right, ROM Immortal is part of a larger brand platform of the same name. Its tagline is, "We live on in what we leave behind," a nod to the work of museums, and the ways in which legacies survive in artworks, artifacts, and natural history specimens.
For Basseches, ROM Immortal also gets at a fundamental truth of the Museum.
"Relevance is woven into our very DNA," he said. "From specimens that trace the origins of life over billions of years to contemporary works by new boundary-breaking artists, the objects in ROM's collection touch every facet of human existence."
But as important as ROM Immortal is, it's just one facet of ROM's continuing evolution.
So, how else is the Museum changing? It now has the world's first curator of climate change, the world's first gallery dedicated to the origins of life on Earth, and more dynamic and engaging exhibitions than ever.
Here's what's out now—and coming soon ...
Kent Monkman: Being Legendary
Now – March 19, 2023
From internationally acclaimed Cree artist Kent Monkman comes Being Legendary—a groundbreaking exhibition of 35 original paintings paired with long-held ROM objects, which takes visitors on a journey from the dawn of time to the present day. Narrated by Monkman's gender-fluid, shape-shifting alter ego, Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, Being Legendary wrestles with complex questions about colonialism with wit and warmth.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022
November 12, 2022 – April 23, 2023
Wildlife Photographer of the Year has long been a visitor favorite—and for good reason. Featuring 100 images from the annual competition, this exhibition captures stunning landscapes and extraordinary species with unmatched beauty and pathos.
Canadian Modern
December 3, 2022 – September 3, 2023
From the shoes we wear to the phones we text on, Canadian design is everywhere. And now it's the subject of a sweeping exhibition, which spans nearly a century of fashion, furniture, electronics, and more. Inspired by everything from the Swinging Sixties to the Space Race, Canadian Modern reminds us that while Canadians may be apologetic, Canadian art is anything but.
T. rex: The Ultimate Predator
March 11, 2023
Think you know T. rex? Think again.
This thrilling exhibition takes a fresh look at nature's most fearsome carnivore, using the latest scientific research to shatter preconceived notions about dinosaurs. (For instance, did you know that T. rex hatchlings were turkey-sized, fluffy, and gangly? Or that T. rex could digest bones?) With full-size dinosaur models, multisensory activities, interactives and more, visitors will be immersed in the world of the Mesozoic Era—and the tyrannosaur superfamily.
Learn more at Royal Ontario Museum.
Written by By Colin J. Fleming for Royal Ontario Museum.
Courtesy of Royal Ontario Museum.
Photo courtesy of Royal Ontario Museum.
