What is a Purpose of a Curator?

What is a Purpose of a Curator?
19 Jan 2025

My longtime colleague and friend Ilana Shechter, a master of traditional Chinese painting, invited me to curate her solo exhibition "Growing Despite All " or "Three Friends of Cold Winter."

As mature and thoughtful artists, we're usually quite skilled at choosing and developing our themes. Even though I've organized several of my own exhibitions and participated in curatorial projects before, I found myself wondering: How could I really be helpful to my friend in organizing her project?

After some reflection, these key points emerged:

• First, helping define the theme and enabling the artist to see their work in a broader context. This means uncovering meanings that the artist themselves might not have noticed, and understanding how their work fits into the context of current time, place, and relevant events.

• Second, maintaining boundaries. Setting up clear stages and deadlines. Helping the artist focus on the right elements.

• And finally, PR and marketing - often an artist's biggest challenge.

What challenges have you faced when putting together exhibitions?
In your opinion, what's the real value and purpose of a curator?

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