In 2015 British Vogue posted their first YouTube video in what would become a popular series known as “In the Bag.” In these videos celebrities are asked to showcase the contents of their daily bags, where viewers see everyday items like sunglasses, ChapStick and ibuprofen that would grace the bottoms and pockets of their favorite star's designer handbags. Since 2015, “In the bag” has inspired a variety of social media trends of average people showing the contents of their purses, schoolbags, carry-on luggage etc. The objects a person carries with them say a lot about who they are and the circumstances in which they live.
Using objects from the City of Kingston’s Civic Collection this exhibit features an imaginary bag belonging to a fictional 19th century gentleman. The 19th century was chosen due to the many pieces held within the collection originating from this period. At the height of the Industrial Revolution in Canada there was a great shift in commuter culture that made travelling more accessible for people. With the popularization of street cars and the expansion of the railway, people began to commute to work and consequently bring their belongings with them. This was especially true for those Bourgeois gentlemen and businessmen in charge of the large factories and industrial areas of the city.
While the artifacts in this exhibit were not found together in a bag or even donated by any one person, each is a commonplace item that we ask the viewer to imagine in this sort of scenario. In addition, each object was chosen with a modern counterpart in mind. Viewers are invited to explore this collection in depth, imagine what kind of person would have owned these belongings and wonder whether they were truly so different from us.
