Rooney Vision

Seeing the world as a museum, one object at a time. From writer and curator David Rooney.

I write a free Substack newsletter, Rooney Vision.

My curatorial career has shaped my outlook on life. I see fascinating artefacts everywhere I look: in city streets, in the countryside, in houses and shops, in factories, workshops, airports, and stations, above ground and under its surface. At least, I think they’re fascinating. They certainly deserve our attention, because our history is embedded in the objects which surround us in our daily lives, even if we don’t always look closely at them. Hence the strapline for my newsletter: Seeing the world as a museum, one object at a time. I enjoy writing the captions for the artefacts that catch my eye.

From congestion charging to CCTV, from pylons to flyovers, from clocktowers to aerodromes and much more, I’m bringing the mundane out from the shadows and exploring its history.

I try to post every week or two. Sometimes these are short notes. It could be something that’s caught my eye or been on my mind. Other times I post longer articles, often multi-part. Subscribing is free and I hope you’ll consider doing so. You can read without subscribing, but you won’t get new posts straight to your inbox. I’d hate for you to miss out!