Created by Suzanne Freeman.
Featuring a scattered series of display cases, each containing key items, locations and references to characters from all eighteen episodes of James Joyce’s epic, the Ulysses Treasure Hunt took place across each floor of MoLI, encouraging exploration and requiring close attention to detail.
Visitors could find many of the most iconic items and scenes from Ulysses hidden at various points throughout the museum, including recreations of Leopold Bloom’s favourite moustache-cup, Stephen Dedalus’ telegram to Buck Mulligan, the Jacob’s Biscuits tin hurled by the Citizen, the famous lemon soap (still available for purchase at Sweny’s pharmacy!) and even a comprehensive map of every character’s routes and locations from the vignette-based ‘Wandering Rocks’ episode.
This treasure hunt was a very basic guide to Ulysses. Each episode in the novel is represented by one of 18 small wooden cases dotted around MoLI. Visitors could hunt each one down and match the case to its page in a booklet for another glimpse into that episode.
James Joyce intended for Ulysses to be a tricky read. He is quoted as saying that he “put in so many enigmas and puzzles that it will keep the professors busy for centuries arguing over what I meant....”
Solving puzzles takes time and effort. Taking the time to read Ulysses with guides and references is a great way to uncover its hidden gems.
Displayed at MoLI in a treasure hunt format, the collection of display cases, created by artist Suzanne Freeman, is still available to see in linear order under the title Ulysses: An Odyssey, in the James Joyce Centre, located at 35 North Great George’s Street.
Suzanne Freeman has been working in the museum sector as an objects conservator and collection manager for many years. This exhibition was developed and created through a PhD study undertaken by Suzanne on the nature of her work practice; and how the treatment and placement of objects in a museum can alter their cultural meaning.
