Illustration © Shaun Tan
The Odditoreum contains a parade of
curiosities large and small from deep within
the vaults of the Powerhouse Museum. With
400,000 objects to choose from, there was
plenty of scope for the weird to emerge.
We invited award-winning author and
illustrator Shaun Tan to create stories for them.
For Shaun, this is where the trigger for the
imagination is drawn. When things are
strange the brain sends out feelers for
meaning and who knows what will come
back! These fantastic stories, blurring fact and
fiction, are the result. We also asked a group
of 9 and 10 year olds to write some fanciful
stories of their own.
Finally, the objects are often no less intriguing
when you discover what they actually are
and we have included collection information
on each of them. So amuse yourself at their
expense, because secretly we think they love
being useful.
Syllabus connection
These notes are suitable for students to read.
They can be accessed online under the
teacher’s direction either at home or school.
Segments can be reproduced, for example to
create a worksheet or smartboard page,
without the need for extensive editing.
Shaun Tan and his creative process
Shaun Tan is an author and illustrator. His work
is popular all over the world. He has written
and illustrated well loved books such as The
Arrival, The Lost Thing and The Red Tree.
Most of his books look like children’s picture
books, but they can be dark and challenging.
He does not write for children only, in fact he
aims to provoke thought and his work is
created for ‘anyone who is curious, who
enjoys strangeness, mystery and oddity, who
likes asking questions and using their
imagination’. Perhaps that describes you.
On his website http://www.shauntan.net/
Shaun Tan offers excellent advice to other
authors and artists when he describes his own
creative process.
How to get an idea
‘There’s always something to discover,
usually in the same old stuff you’ve been
looking at every day — there’s no
shortage of material. You just have to
apply your imagination and look at it
all from a new angle.’
‘For me, that’s what creativity is —
playing with found objects, reconstructing
things that already exist, transforming
ideas or stories I already know.’
Developing your idea
‘It’s about exploring inwards, examining
your existing presumptions, squinting at
the archive of experience from new
angles, and hoping for some sort of
revelation.’
‘It’s … a process of slightly absentminded discovery, of seeing where
certain lines of thinking take you if you
keep following them. I know I’m on the
right track when there is a sense of
unfamiliarity about what I’m doing, that
I’m actually being surprised by the way
mixed drawings and words make their
own novel sense.’
Refining your work
‘Often I end up writing and drawing a
lot of material, and then strip it back to
its essential images and words; build on
those, and again strip it back — so it is
kind of like modelling and carving using
ideas.’
… and finally
‘What really matters is whether we as
readers continue to think about the
things we have read and seen long
after the final page is turned.’
Illustration © Shaun Tan
TEACHERS NOTES 2
Shaun Tan label for The Odditoreum
Guide dog testing device number 6
This enormous liquorice allsorts shoe is one of several outlandish
objects used to test young guide dogs for their susceptibility to
distraction while on duty. A tricycle inside the shoe allows a rider
to manoeuvre this colourful vehicle while prospective guide dogs
are put through their paces. The shoe appears at the moment an
important task needs to be performed, such as crossing a road,
laying quietly in a restaurant, or entering a lift. Dogs are then
assessed on their ability to maintain composure and focus, thus
preparing them for the challenges of the real world.
Other ‘canine distracters’ commonly used by training staff include
a Volkswagen covered in sausages, an ice-cream van that spills
colourful rubber balls, and a litter of kittens riding on a miniature
steam train.
Shaun Tan
object shaun labels306x306.indd 7
This is one of the labels Shaun Tan wrote for
The Odditoreum. This label is also included in
the book The Odditoreum.
20/7/09 11:41:57 AM
extension of the ‘canine distracter’ idea in the
final sentence gives the reader satisfying
detail and makes the story complete.
Shaun Tan has written this label in a semiserious tone, just as you might expect a
museum to do. The vocabulary is slightly
more formal than the everyday but it is still
very clear. Note the careful choice of words
in the first two sentences: susceptibility,
distraction, manoeuvre, vehicle and
prospective. The contrast between this formal
language and the absurd subject matter: an
‘enormous’ and ‘outlandish’ shoe made of
lollies; makes the piece of writing funny. The
TEACHERS NOTES 3
Children’s label for The Odditoreum
Elephant’s wee
This lovely little ball is a great treat for all to eat. Made out
of pure elephant wee, it is a luxury and only served at the
finest of places. It was discovered in Africa in an elephant
cafe when an elephant peed in a glass and another elephant
drank it and said it was good! So the elephant chef figured
out how to make it into a great treat!
It then made its way to humankind and I guess someone
drank it and liked it and sold it to the museum where it is
now. If you want to try it, eat it now at your closest elephant
restaurant shop.
Augustine, aged 9
object kids labels306x306.indd 3
22/7/09 12:11:38 PM
This is one of the labels written by primary
school students. They have adopted a similar
style and approach to Shaun Tan.
TEACHERS NOTES 4
Now it’s your turn
You may like to try writing your own fanciful
museum label for one of The Odditoreum
objects. You could even make your own
Odditoreum in your classroom by asking
everyone to bring something odd from home
and then write about it.
Steps to writing your label
Read Shaun Tan’s label and the notes.
Talk about this in your class.
Decide if you want to read the Strange but
true section for information about the museum
objects. (If you are ‘stuck’ in your writing, this
may help your imagination get going).
1. Plan and think
Look at all the objects and choose the one
you like best.
Divide into pairs or very small groups of
people who want to write for the same object.
The easiest way to get started is to make some
notes about the object that are very descriptive.
These details will be useful when you begin
your draft. Keep in mind the questions that
we always want to know the answers to:
•Who? What? Where? When? How? Why?
On a board or large paper write:
•what it is made of
•what it could be made from
•what colour it is
•the colour it reminds you of
•weight and size
•imagine it as a different weight and size
•what it is/could be/looks like
•who made it and when
•who else might have made it
•who was it used by and when
•who else may have used it
Talk about what attracted you to your object
and write a list of ideas that start to form:
•it’s from the future
•it has a terrible smell
•it is used by people with curly hair
•it is made from green vegetables
You are writing a fanciful label and imagining
so don’t worry if some of your points seem
silly! Remember one of the things Shaun Tan
does in his work — look at an ordinary thing
in a different or unexpected way.
Either alone or with your writing partner
choose your best ideas and start your draft.
2. Write a draft
Aim to write 100 words. This is long enough
to include some details but not long enough
for the reader to get bored. Remember to
include details as this will make your label
more believable.
3. Check the draft
Go through your work and check the spelling,
punctuation and grammar. Make sure your label
makes sense and gets your message across.
4. Swap with your partner
Ask someone else to read what you have
written. A new reader is very helpful as they
can point out to you if there is a part of the
label they could not understand, or if there is
an idea they particularly liked.
5. Rewrite and finish
You may need to make some changes to your
work and correct any mistakes. Type and
print out your finished label.
TEACHERS NOTES 5
Strange but true
The objects in The Odditoreum all belong to
the Powerhouse museum collection. Some of
The Odditoreum objects are over 200 years
old and others were made more recently.
There are familiar things, for example the
brown velvet dress, but it was made to be
worn by boys as was the fashion long ago!
And there are very unfamiliar things such as
the tooth key. Your dentist probably doesn’t
use one of these on you.
The Powerhouse Museum has over 400 000
objects in its collection. Quite a few of them
are very odd indeed. We still don’t know all
the information about every object. See
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/
collection/database/
Collection information
High-heeled shoe on a tricycle
called ‘Liquorice Allsorts’,
designed by Ross Wallace for
the Sydney 2000 Olympic
Games closing ceremony.
Gift of the NSW Government 2001.
2001/84/11
Sculpture of a griffin in embossed
zinc, made by Wunderlich Limited,
Sydney in 1903–1916. Griffins
were placed at the entrance of
palaces as guardians of wealth and order. This
griffin once guarded the Kings Cross Theatre.
Gift of Jack Surmon 2009.
2009/26/1
A series of 21 books filled with
clothes (including this garment)
called ‘The Wizard of Jeanz’,
designed by Hiroaki Ohya in
Japan in 2001. Each of the fabric books folds
out to become a different kind of women’s
garment, changing from denim to floral cotton.
Purchased 2005.
A ball of animal hair from the
stomach of a bull called a bezoar
found in Bodalla, NSW, about
1892. In one of the Harry Potter
books, Harry uses a bezoar to save Ron’s life.
Gift of Mr A Gale 1892.
E1401–1
A ball of yellow pigment called
puree used to dye fabrics, made
in India about 1887. Old
Museum papers said the puree
was made from the wee of an elephant (or a
cow) fed on mango leaves.
Purchased, 1887.
17431–1
A set of microscope slides in a
box from the late 19th century.
One slide shows the tongue of
a garden spider.
Gift of Mrs R P Boyle 1974.
H9118
A botanical specimen of a
plant called Gum Sarg Draconis
Reed. The original Museum
label says it is ‘Dragon’s Blood
— 3rd quality’. Purchased 1885.
9952
Part of a hand-painted botanical
model of a sweet pea pod with
peas, made from papier-mâché,
metal, and plaster by Dr Louis
Thomas Jérome Auzoux, in France in 1883.
Purchased 1883.
2797–3
A broom-making machine made
by Thomas Michael Cummings
in Balmain, Sydney, about 1920
for the Better Brooms company.
Gift of Mrs Eve Cummings 1992.
92/1282
2005/110/1–18
TEACHERS NOTES 6
A boy’s dress of cotton velvet
and silk with mother-of-pearl
buttons made in Australia
about 1900.
Gift of Linda Claydon and Peter Hawkins 2004. 2004/28/1
Hand-painted casts of horses’ teeth
made from papier-mâché, metal
and plaster in Sydney, NSW. The
casts were used as a teaching aid.
Gift of Sydney Technical College 1902.
E3414–4/1
A tooth key made from steel and
wood. These keys were modelled
after a door key. It was placed
into the mouth, its claw tightened
and then turned.
Purchased 1913.
H3066
A pair of shoes called ‘Super
elevated gillies’, by British fashion
designer Vivienne Westwood and
made from leather, cork and silk
for her 1993/4 collection. Naomi Campbell,
then a famous model, fell on a London catwalk
while wearing these shoes.
Purchased 1997.
Model of an Indian temple made
in NSW by George Cormack
from opal, wood and glass
between 1945 and 1950.
Gift of Mr W G Cormack 1950.
A4256–1
An earthenware ‘frog mug’
made in England between 1791
and 1801. Lettering on the mug
says ‘The token, of Jack’s safe
return to his true love/if you love’s I as I love’s
you/no pair so happy as we two’
Gift of Miss D Wentworth 1942.
A3520
A hand-painted anatomical
model of a female silkworm
moth made from papier-mâché,
metal and plaster by Dr Louis
Thomas Jérome Auzoux, in Paris, France.
Purchased 1884.
8453–1
97/208/1–2
TEACHERS NOTES 7
Activity booklet
The Odditoreum contains a parade of
curiosities large and small from deep within
the vaults of the Powerhouse Museum. Awardwinning author and illustrator Shaun Tan has
created an intriguing story for each, blurring
fact and fantasy, in a very potent and funny
mix for readers of all ages. And he’s left some
pages blank, so you can write your own
fanciful stories!
RRP $9.99, 36 pages
For more information on the exhibition
The Odditoreum, visit the Powerhouse Museum’s
website http://play.powerhousemuseum.com/
whatson/odditoreum.php
Limited edition print
The Museum commissioned Shaun Tan to
create an original illustration for the booklet’s
wraparound cover and he has produced an
enchanting parade of oddities that deftly
capture the dark ‘strangeness and mystery’
of The Odditoreum. Powerhouse Publishing
has produced a limited edition print (above)
on high quality art paper of the booklet’s
cover, which is personally signed and
numbered by Shaun Tan.
RRP $150.00, 660 x 297 mm
Both available from the Powerhouse Shop
or online at www.powerhousemuseum.com/
publications
For more information about education support
or your booking, contact Bookings at the
Powerhouse Museum:
Telephone — (02) 9217 0222
Fax — (02) 9217 0622
Email — [email protected]
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Unless otherwise stated, all photographs © Powerhouse Museum.
© 2009 Trustees of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. This publication is copyright. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of research, study, criticism or review, or as
otherwise permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission.
The Powerhouse Museum, part of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences also incorporating Sydney Observatory, the Powerhouse Discovery Centre and the NSW Migration
Heritage Centre, is a NSW government cultural institution.
TEACHERS NOTES 8