Friday, September 21, 2007
It seems seldom these days to see art curation being taken seriously. Either these days it's corporate collections or corporate competitions, with the odd gallery here and there having a professional curator. I can't say I am surprised much... it's a thankless task. If you want to curate independently there's no money. No commission. A labour of love, until galleries see the need to hire people, even on a freelance basis. This explains why it's been a frigging age since I saw a decent contemporary group show, with some simmer of intellect above 'Summer 07' or 'Recent Aquisitions'. If we look to Europe, the contemporary curator is treated like a small god, we recognise their names, on par with contemporary artists. Curators are a vital aspect of art, the people that help the viewer see, the people who pick out intellectual trends and remix it for our consumption.
This brings me to mention Linda Stupart, a friend of mine who has begun this year to hold free workshops for young curators, at the Centre for African Studies at UCT. I believe it has been going well, and I hope it has lit a spark in some people.
Which brings me to Linda's latest venture, a curation of UCT's permanent collection of art. It was interesting, as this show seemed to be exclusively about curating, and the joy of it. Instead of a lot of curating which I have seen recently, for example Africa Remix, where the work is placed in a way that accentuates the individual, this show more looked at the narratives, relationships and links between the works. Obviously this wasn't the point in a show like Africa Remix which had different intentions entirely, but I still find seeing a strong curatorial hand to be a delight. The work itself wasn't extraordinary, but it gave you an insight into the trends of UCT's collection policies, something which was surprisingly interesting.
This brings me to mention Linda Stupart, a friend of mine who has begun this year to hold free workshops for young curators, at the Centre for African Studies at UCT. I believe it has been going well, and I hope it has lit a spark in some people.
Which brings me to Linda's latest venture, a curation of UCT's permanent collection of art. It was interesting, as this show seemed to be exclusively about curating, and the joy of it. Instead of a lot of curating which I have seen recently, for example Africa Remix, where the work is placed in a way that accentuates the individual, this show more looked at the narratives, relationships and links between the works. Obviously this wasn't the point in a show like Africa Remix which had different intentions entirely, but I still find seeing a strong curatorial hand to be a delight. The work itself wasn't extraordinary, but it gave you an insight into the trends of UCT's collection policies, something which was surprisingly interesting.
Labels: curating, Linda Stupart, Uct
posted by Robert Sloon at 12:49 PM
6 Comments:
wow, a comparison with africa remix, a multi million dollar, global travelling show. in good company, i'd say.
A show's a show. Let them go on.
Miss Thandi,
I must ask is how much money spent, and where a show has been, put it out of the league of comparison. Or do you think we can look at ideas without having to worry about how much they cost?
If ideas are priceless then this paltry show is bankrupt. Really Mr Sloon: delusions of grandeur? Its about time artheat's editorial puts itself into curatorship, the real kind.
Hello darling Bob,
Apologies for the delay in responding to your question - was traveling.
I felt that you were overstating your case dropping 'africa remix' into your 'review'. and I felt that, by commenting on a friends work, you actually compromised your criticality. Is this www.artthrob.co.za for beginners?
And what, dear bob, does a show look like that is " exclusively about" curation? now I haven't seen the show, and I am sure your friend had the best of intentions, and so did you when starting to write the review... but please darling, stop covering up mediocrity with mediocrity. I've come to expect more from you.
And don't be so darn sensitive. Sensitive men did it for me in the 90's.
Love,
Miss Thandi
Ps. I am a known cheapskate, so no, its not about the money. Its what you do with what you have, that is important. And we have more, and more appropriate examples to compare shows to than that salad bowl called africa remix.
Hooray. So we've now reached the point when one can pontificate about curation when one openly and publicly reveals that (minor point no doubt) one has not seen the the show. What a step forward! I assume this is not the real Miss Thandi. But then I have never actually seen the real Miss Thandi. Or have I?
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