Exhibition The Normans
Reiss-Engelhorn Museums
September 18, 2022 – February 26, 2023

• Reconstruction
• Digital Environment
• Character Animation
• 3D Animation

Die Normannen
The Normans

The special exhibition “Die Normannen | The Normans” at the Museum Zeughaus, Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen in Mannheim, was developed in collaboration with the “Réunion des Musées Métropolitains” in Rouen, Normandy. This binational exhibition explored the world of the Normans and their impact on European history from the 9th century onwards.

Two important events, the Battle of Hastings and the Siege of Antioch, were created by us for the exhibition. Using elaborate 3D reconstructions, digital characters, and crowd simulations, combined with real filmed actors, we brought these events to life in their key moments. The Battle of Hastings, fought on October 14, 1066, where Duke William the Conqueror defeated the Anglo-Saxons under King Harold II, was vividly recreated in a video installation. Additionally, the exhibition highlighted the conquest of Antioch during the First Crusade (1096-1099), showcasing the strategic and military prowess of the Normans.

These reconstructions played a crucial role in dispelling stereotypes of the Normans as mere bloodthirsty conquerors, highlighting instead their mobility, conquests, and innovations. The exhibition traced the Normans’ journey from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, with a particular focus on England and Sicily.