The curators of Art

| Read time: 5 minute(s)

Art World
By Kinjal Trivedi

The curators of Art “I have curated a new fashion line!” “I am a curator of paintings!” “I curate!”... What does this term really mean. It's become almost a fashion to say this. ‘Cura’ in Latin means to take care. People who take care of the heritage of Museums, Art Galleries, Sculptures... maybe even Cheese and Wine become curators. To become a curator it’s very important to understand the history, geography and the socio-economic advantage of different eras that let this product or an idea actually exist. For example, people used to carry coal from one place to another, then they made animals carry it so humans would not have to. Then they pushed bulk of goods at one go. Then they figured how to make a round wheel that could easily be attached under this carriage to be pushed. The first wheel was made of wood. After many years what we see now is alloy or carbon fibre wheels with tubeless tyres or even nitrogen filled tyres for automobiles to run faster. If you go to a museum of automobile in Germany, you will be able to see the first wheel till the present ones used. This is what a curator does. The curator makes decisions regarding what objects to select, oversees their potential and documentation, conducts research based on the collection and its history, provides proper packaging of art for transportation, and shares research with the public and community through exhibitions and publications. Curators hold a high academic degree, a Doctor of Philosophy or a master's degree, in subjects such as history, art, archeology, anthropology or classics. Curators are also expected to have contributed to their academic field, for example, by delivering public talks, publishing articles, or presenting at specialist academic conferences. It is important that curators have knowledge of the current collecting market for their area of expertise, and are aware of current ethical practices and laws that may impact their organisation's collecting. So curator is a serious occupation that protects the heritage of the world. It's a very prestigious career and maybe it's a way to nurture and maintain the culture for our future generations! Pieter Roelofs is specialised in 17th-century Dutch painting. He is a member of the project team preparing the Year of Rembrandt 2019 in commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the greatest master of the Dutch Golden Age. Curator Mary Rozell oversees Swiss bank UBS's extraordinary 30,000 piece art trove. Roobina Karode is the Director & Chief Curator, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, International Asian Art Council Member, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada

“I have curated a new fashion line!”
“I am a curator of paintings!”
“I curate…”

What does this term really mean. It’s become almost a fashion to say this.

‘Cura’ in Latin means to take care.

People who take care of the heritage of Museums, Art Galleries, Sculptures… maybe even Cheese and Wine become curators.

To become a curator it’s very important to understand the history, geography and the socio-economic advantage of different eras that let this product or an idea actually exist. For example, people used to carry coal from one place to another, then they made animals carry it so humans would not have to. Then they pushed bulk of goods at one go. Then they figured how to make a round wheel that could easily be attached under this carriage to be pushed.

The first wheel was made of wood. After many years what we see now is alloy or carbon fibre wheels with tubeless tyres or even nitrogen filled tyres for automobiles to run faster.

If you go to a museum of automobile in Germany, you will be able to see the first wheel till the present ones used.

This is what a curator does.

Pieter Roelofs is specialised in 17th-century Dutch painting. He is a member of the project team preparing the Year of Rembrandt 2019 in commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the greatest master of the Dutch Golden Age.

The curator makes decisions regarding what objects to select, oversees their potential and documentation, conducts research based on the collection and its history, provides proper packaging of art for transportation, and shares research with the public and community through exhibitions and publications.

Curators hold a high academic degree, a Doctor of Philosophy or a master’s degree, in subjects such as history, art, archeology, anthropology or classics.

Curators are also expected to have contributed to their academic field, for example, by delivering public talks, publishing articles, or presenting at specialist academic conferences. It is important that curators have knowledge of the current collecting market for their area of expertise, and are aware of current ethical practices and laws that may impact their organisation’s collecting.

Curator Mary Rozell oversees Swiss bank UBS’s extraordinary 30,000 piece art trove.

So curator is a serious occupation that protects the heritage of the world. It’s a very prestigious career and maybe it’s a way to nurture and maintain the culture for our future generations!

Roobina Karode is the Director & Chief Curator, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, International Asian Art Council Member, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada


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