4a Curators’ Intensive

Curator-Intensive-template

Last week I was fortunate to take part in the 4a Centre for Contemporary Asian Art‘s Curators’ Intensive, “an initiative developed by 4A to encourage professional advancement amongst early career Australian cultural practitioners with an interest in curatorial practice”.

Cosmin Costinas discussing the work of Ai Weiwei during the 4a Curators' Intensive in Sydney, July 2014

Cosmin Costinas discussing the work of Ai Weiwei during the 4a Curators’ Intensive in Sydney, July 2014

We participated in keynote lectures and workshops led by three noted curators from the Asia-Pacific region, Cosmin Costinas (Hong Kong), Dr Sophie McIntyre (ACT), & Robin Peckham (Hong Kong/Beijing). These ranged in subject from the recent shaping of Hong Kong’s identity, to the phenomenon of post-internet art, to the politics of representation. We also undertook field trips to artist studios and exhibitions around Sydney, which provided a context for questions around various curatorial approaches.

4a Curators' Intensive participants listening to curator Andrea James discussing Karla Dickens' work 'Demanding a voice is tiresome' (2014) in the exhibition Hereby Make Protest at Carriageworks, Sydney. Photograph: Chloé Wolifson

4a Curators’ Intensive participants listening to curator Andrea James discussing Karla Dickens’ work ‘Demanding a voice is tiresome’ (2014) in the exhibition Hereby Make Protest at Carriageworks, Sydney. Photograph: Chloé Wolifson

My fellow participants were Miriam Arbus (VIC), Mira Asriningtyas (Indonesia), Andrew Ewing (NT), Sebastian Goldspink (NSW), Sophie Kitson (NSW), Alana Kushnir (VIC), Tess Maunder (QLD), Tulleah Pearce (NSW), Kyle Weise (VIC), Gintani Nur Apresia Swastika (Indonesia), & Luisa Tresca (NSW). These emerging curators from around the region have backgrounds ranging from visual arts to literature to performance, in commercial galleries, artist-run spaces and institutions. This variety of perspectives contributed to lively dialogue, and the conversations continued in taxis and around lunch tables over the course of the four days.

4a Curators' Intensive participants listening to gallerist Amanda Rowell discuss Archie Moore's exhibition Les Eaux d'Amoore at The Commercial, Sydney. Photograph: Chloé Wolifson

4a Curators’ Intensive participants listening to gallerist Amanda Rowell discuss Archie Moore’s exhibition Les Eaux d’Amoore at The Commercial, Sydney. Photograph: Chloé Wolifson

I feel privileged to have been chosen for such a great opportunity, and look forward to continuing the discussions with my curatorial cohort.

4a Centre for Contemporary Asian Art is an enduring institution with fantastic public programming. The Intensive’s keynote lectures were open to the public and recorded – I will link back to them here once they are available online.

4a Curators' Intensive participants experiencing Archie Moore's exhibition Les Eaux d'Amoore at The Commercial, Sydney. Photograph: Chloé Wolifson

4a Curators’ Intensive participants experiencing Archie Moore’s exhibition Les Eaux d’Amoore at The Commercial, Sydney. Photograph: Chloé Wolifson