Yiwen Lu

My research focuses on exploring the emerging trend of museum object research through the theory of the "Material Turn, which has gained prominence in the fields of Western humanities and social sciences in the 21st century. Considering the expansion of musealization and the advancement of digitalization, this study will re-examine the new scope and connotations of museum objects, as well as how they construct meaning and pathways for value realization within both the internal and external environments of museums. I am especially interested in the process by which objects enter the museum space and how the museum presents this process, especially from the perspectives of the social biography and agency of the objects, how does the museum interpret culture and communication based on the objects? By offering a new understanding of material culture, this study aims to highlight the significance of museum objects in contemporary society and examine their central role in cultural exchange, knowledge dissemination, and identity construction. It integrates material culture theory into museum studies while also redirecting the focus of museum studies back to museum objects,reinforcing attention to their materiality. Through a dynamic analysis of the connotation, interpretation, and interactive expression of objects, this study seeks, on the one hand, to contribute museum-based insights to the discourse on the "Material Turn" and, on the other hand, to reflect on and respond to the evolving role of museums in contemporary society.