Art curator - when to become professional

The event of interior designer TC just launching an art gallery in Ho Chi Minh City, with a painting exhibition curated by himself, has caused a stir in the art world. One side praised it for having a new exhibition space, meeting the needs of the creative community and the art-loving public. On the other hand, many opinions said that this was just a "fun event", because TC does not have curatorial expertise.

The story once again rekindled an old debate: who are art curators, and what is their role in the current Vietnamese art market?

In fact, the lack of professional curators has always been one of the major obstacles for domestic fine arts. Many exhibitions have had to stop halfway or young art spaces have been forced to close after only a few events, all because of a lack of qualified organizers.

Over the past five years or so, the emergence of independent curators has contributed to a transformation in the art world. Many exhibitions have become more elaborately organized, with deeper content and display methods that engage in dialogue with the public.

Several young curatorial talents have been invited to collaborate with international spaces, demonstrating the potential and dynamism of this generation. However, the majority are self-taught, rising through practical experience and personal passion.

Currently, Vietnam does not have a school that specializes in art curation. Those who want to pursue a formal career in the profession often have to study abroad at prestigious training institutions such as the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Singapore), which offers in-depth programs in curation, museology, and art management. The lack of a domestic training system makes the current curator force both thin and lacking a solid academic foundation, leading to many controversies about professionalism.

Nevertheless, the efforts of self-taught curators cannot be denied. They were pioneers who contributed to maintaining the functioning of the art world, bringing art closer to the public, and gradually forming the initial professional standards.

An art market that wants to develop professionally needs to have synchronously operating links: artists - collectors - exhibition spaces - curators - public. In which, the curator is the one who connects, "reads" the spirit of the artist and "translates" it into a visual language that is easy for viewers to understand. When that role is not properly recognized and properly trained, Vietnamese fine arts will still struggle between passion and professionalism.

BLUE

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/giam-tuyen-nghe-thuat-bao-gio-cho-den-chuyen-nghiep-post821935.html