This thesis explores how the aura of the artworks changes in the age of digital reproduction through the empirical experiments conducted in Uppsala Konstmuseum. By employing the definition of the aura given by Benjamin in The work of art in the age of the mechanical reproduction and The arcade project, this thesis conceptualizes the “aura” into eight dimensions and then operationalizes the eight dimensions in order to find whether audience’s evaluation of the artwork changes when they are given different stimulus in the control experiment. From the control experiment, the quantitative data will be obtained from a questionnaire and non-participant observation. The qualitative data will be obtained from the interviews. By also applying the simulacra theory of Baudrillard to the analysis part, this thesis finds that there exists a small difference in the perception of the aura between the people who see a digital copy and who see a real painting. The aura still has its power. However, such power is really weak, as many dimensions of the aura have been weakened by the digital simulacra. Through this study, I suggest the museums to take cautious steps to digitalize their artworks though there is no evidence that virtual museums can replace real museums.

With digital presence becoming an increasingly big part of museums, more resources have been put on digital interactions. This thesis studies how Malmö Museums can enforce their digital strategy by taking advantage of the Norwegian method – Tingens Metod (Method of Things), and by renewing their digital presence. Because of the COVID-19 crisis and the technological advancements of the past decade, museums are using digital technologies more than ever before to reach their visitors. By using Tingens Metod, we have been able to show how collaborative digital workshops with different participating groups can open the museum process to be an open dialogue between museum creators and the museum’s visitors. The workshops have led to a democratisation of artefacts, and a new-found appreciation for the conservation that occurs at museums. These workshops have also shown that participants would like to use digital tools and interactions in their exploration of a museum’s wide collection of artefacts. The results of this thesis project have led to the creation of a two-part prototype. First, the Tingens Metod workshops are adapted to become a recurring playtest programme at the museum. Second, an overall renewed digital presence which reimagines the museum’s digital presence in a modern and reimagined way should be available on platforms that visitors are using. Together these two parts form a proposed prototype which can be adapted by Malmö Museums in their continued effort to reach their long-term digital strategy goals.

With digital presence becoming an increasingly big part of museums, more resources have been put on digital interactions. This thesis studies how Malmö Museums can enforce their digital strategy by taking advantage of the Norwegian method – Tingens Metod (Method of Things), and by renewing their digital presence. Because of the COVID-19 crisis and the technological advancements of the past decade, museums are using digital technologies more than ever before to reach their visitors. By using Tingens Metod, we have been able to show how collaborative digital workshops with different participating groups can open the museum process to be an open dialogue between museum creators and the museum’s visitors. The workshops have led to a democratisation of artefacts, and a new-found appreciation for the conservation that occurs at museums. These workshops have also shown that participants would like to use digital tools and interactions in their exploration of a museum’s wide collection of artefacts.The results of this thesis project have led to the creation of a two-part prototype. First, the Tingens Metod workshops are adapted to become a recurring playtest programme at the museum. Second, an overall renewed digital presence which reimagines the museum’s digital presence in a modern and reimagined way should be available on platforms that visitors are using. Together these two parts form a proposed prototype which can be adapted by Malmö Museums in their continued effort to reach their long-term digital strategy goals.