Curatorial Insights

As actor is to director, author is to publisher, and model is to fashion designer; there is a need for dynamic duos in order for each individual to succeed. One cannot function without the other, for both occupations need to coexist and are codependent on each other. This rule applies to the relationship between the artist and the curator. The artist produces the art, and the curator curates the art. To curate means to organize a collection of items, usually at an exhibition located inside of a museum. The job of a curator is to collect artwork, organize the artworks, and plan exhibitions for the artwork to be seen at an event. Being a curator may sound like a simple and easy occupation, but the work is more complex. A curator’s position requires someone to obtain diligence, willing to do research, interpret and contribute, but also have sentimental values. Besides curating items the curator must understand the artist, and become the voice of the artwork when the artist is not present. Without the curator, the artist has to struggle to be seen, and struggle to be heard. This goes for the artist as well. Without the artist, there would not be a curator. Curating an exhibition gives insight and more depth into an artist that you wouldn’t receive by only observing the artwork; because when you curate you are taken into the mind of the artist. It allows you to gain a better understanding of who the artist is and what they are trying to convey in a collection of their artwork. 

Curating creates a better understanding of the artist and what they are trying to interpret into their work. Rather than being subjective, curators are objective in their responsibilities. This is done by conducting a thorough research on who your artist is and what experiences they may have gone through. For example, I am doing an exhibition on the artwork of Lois Mailou Jones. I will be analyzing 9 pieces of her work and explaining how she incorporates many aspects of African cultures in her artwork by using cultural appreciation. I will go further into my analysis of Lois Mailou Jones and her work within my exhibition. My job is to curate a collection of Lois Mailou Jones’ artwork to answer the questions that she herself cannot presently answer. I am explaining her usage of the elements of the art and principles of design, why she incorporated these subjects, and what she is trying to convey within her artworks. In each of her art pieces, I will be breaking down their importance, explaining their significance, and analyzing the hidden themes. This is what a curator is supposed to be doing, which is being the voice for the artist while the artist is being the voice for their artwork. This is the definition of curating. Curating artwork is important not only to the  artist, but also the observer because it allows another perspective to be taken in while viewing said artwork.