The Cabinet of Curiosities: An Arts-Based Investigation into Curiosity and Learning, sets out to trace the history of wonder and inquiry through an examination of the phenomenon of the Baroque Cabinet of Curiosities or Wunderkammer. These encyclopedic collections of natural and manmade objects were comprised of items selected for their rarity, peculiar allure, and metaphorical significance, and were often compiled and exhibited for the purpose of wonder, enlightenment and scholarship. This study surveys the historical significance of the Cabinet of Curiosities in order to evaluate and document the contemporary value of curiosity-driven investigation. These findings are presented through an arts-based curatorial discourse, which focuses on the significance of curiosity in relation to learning, research and creativity.
