Week 2 - Understanding how to curate
Today I shadowed the head curator at The Muse, Gosia. Firstly I asked her about her background in curatorial work but also her practicing career as an artist. She explained in depth the vitality of having a job within the industry, specifically the relationship between curatorial work and artistic practice. I learnt about the vast opportunities that can arise from curatorial work, due to the social nature of the role, you can promote both your curatorial work by meeting artists, gallerists and also other curators but also network for your own practice. This introduction to curatorial work was a brilliant way to start off the day as I was instantly engaged via the attraction I had to the opportunities that can arise from curatorial work.
With a heightened state of engagement, Gosia instantly went into explaining each step between an artist producing an artwork to it being on the gallery wall. She first began discussing the timings between visiting an artist studio and the final show, the logistical and marketing prep that has to be compensated for and also the process of eventually selling a work. We dived right into how to create a price list and bio, something I’ve been creating for the upcoming Yuichiro show. She also explained in-depth the marketing model they have at the gallery and the ways in which they attract an audience - extremely valuable information for potential future shows I will be in or organising. Though, the most insightful part of the day was Gosia’s introduction to curatorial work.
I personally have had no experience in curating work, though, with passion, Gosia explained the depth and beauty of curation. She explained the ways in which space can be manipulated to guide the audience, the ways in which the natural light is manipulated to even the way different seasons lead to different considerations. She helped me develop knowledge on how to manipulate space, how to lead an eye and how to make works talk to each other. The knowledge I can carry through to my installations but also knowledge to explore further in curatorial work. She also provided me with two books on curatorial work, she introduced me to the option to mine for information, another gesture which cannot thank enough.
Other than that I talked to another curator that day which was a friend of Gosia’s, her name was Joanna and she was the head curator/gallerist at the Polish Cultural Association. Throughout my small time in the world of visual arts, I had not previously studied painting, though Joanna’s did not hesitate to teach me about painting. She helped me learn how to read a painting, she provided me with a key that unlocked a previously untapped area of visual art that I couldn’t connect with. This day was extremely insightful, I took in new areas of information I previously had not accessed, it has been a pivotal day in my life within art, I cannot thank the teachers of the day enough.
