Maps of Paintings
Transforming collection data into an interactive public experience for the National Gallery bicentenary.
To mark the National Gallery’s 200th anniversary, NECESSITY.INK was commissioned to create a digital experience exploring how paintings travel, connect with places, and reach new audiences through the National Treasures programme.
Context
Rather than focusing solely on the paintings themselves, the project explored the movement surrounding them. Using historical collection data, acquisition records and exhibition histories, we designed an interactive mapping experience tracing where each artwork had travelled over the decades. The platform transformed complex institutional data into an accessible visual narrative, allowing audiences to discover connections between geography, memory and cultural heritage through an intuitive interface. Inspired by ideas around accessibility and new ways of seeing, the experience encouraged visitors to engage with the collection from a more personal perspective.
Solution
The result was a digital experience combining data visualisation, interaction design and storytelling into a format that felt educational, exploratory and emotionally engaging. By placing audiences at the centre of the narrative, the project demonstrated how cultural institutions can use data not simply for archives or reporting, but as a medium for public engagement and interpretation.
Impact
Maps of Paintings helped the National Gallery surface hidden collection histories in a way that was approachable for broad audiences while supporting the institution’s wider mission of accessibility and public connection. The project became an example of how digital experiences can extend the life of museum collections beyond physical walls, opening new opportunities for participation, discovery and audience engagement through data-led storytelling.
Read the full interview with our founder Tiziana Alocci on the National Gallery’s website
