Curatorship of art: between an artwork, artist and viewer 0

Interlocutor Rūta Šetikaitė
www.kamane.lt, 2013-06-29

In brief: Texts about exhibitions that attract art professionals and amateurs may usually be found in every more serious culture publication. However, the “kitchen” of organisation of exhibitions often remains untouched as a theme. Therefore, the interlocutor speaks with the curator of the National Gallery of Art Dovilė Tumpytė and representative of the Contemporary Art Centre Valentinas Klimašauskas about curatorship of art and the essence of work of an art curator.

Dovilė Tumpytė: “The work of an art curator is related with various skills and knowledge in many fields: history of art and exhibitions, present local and international art processes, philosophy and other disciplines, contemporary thought and circulation of ideas, knowledge about their change and turn in the discourse of art, etc. This work is exploratory and creative, it is related with analysis, observation, selection and the skill to articulate ideas and grant form to them in one or another shape. The skills of management and communication are also needed in the curator’s work.”

Valentinas Klimašauskas: “The curator is the one who takes care and who cares. Usually he/she takes care of organisation of meetings of a viewer and an artwork.”

Dovilė Tumpytė: “The choice of artists depends on the conceptual idea of an exhibition or project, on theme or idea. Artworks should first of all be interesting and valuable as such in the wider context of art, they should be related with the idea of the exhibition in main aspects.”

When asked about the notability of an author’s name and its influence on the choice, the interlocutors mark that the balance between the known names and new creators should be kept. Valentinas Klimašauskas: “The biggest part of the audience has not heard of the majority of artists; therefore, the risk and security are relative things. Following this logics, one may risk a lot by displaying works of a renowned and recognised artist too. The mix of recognisable names and new ones is loved by the audience the most.”

The interlocutors are asked whether curatorship has an impact on the cultural context and forms the taste.

Dovilė Tumpytė: “The curator offers a certain method to look at artworks and processes taking place in the art field. I would agree with the statement that the curator shows directions in which art may be realised and also contributes to encouragement of art processes and thinking about art; he/she does it along with other participants of art field, artists first of all.”


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