Contemporary Curating

AY2018/2019 Semester 1

What's contemporary curating: You will learn about the different types of exhibitions, approaches to curating and the various roles involved in exhibition-making. You will be introduced to different types of spaces, institutional vs independent, white cube, site-specific, etc. There will be discussions of special issues such as conservation, collections management, art commissions. History of Exhibitions: You learn about how international curating and exhibition practices have changed over the decades, as impacted by trends such as globalization and participatory art practices. Important case studies of contemporary art exhibitions will be highlighted and discussed. Writing an Exhibition Proposal: You will learn what is a curatorial narrative and how to write a basic exhibition proposal, including concept, budget and timeline. Writing about Art in an Exhibition Context: You will learn about various forms of art writing for exhibitions, from artwork labels to catalogue essays. You will be familiarised with the styles and formats through writing exercises. Curating Practice: You will work in small teams to put up a mini exhibition. They will be introduced to the practical aspects and basic functions of exhibition organizing and gallery management through this process. Class assignments: Assignments include writing and presenting an exhibition proposal, organizing a mini exhibition and putting together post-event documentation. These will be developed through class exercises, discussions, presentations exercises and peer/instructor feedback sessions.