Curators are often the unsung heroes of art exhibits big and small. They are the gatekeepers between visitors and a museum or gallery’s collection of treasure. They work hard to engage with the public and to keep things interesting and immersive inside the limitations of the facilities they work for. And a recent interview with a small sampling of these hardworking individuals offers valuable insight into the time and effort they pour in to their work at their various venues.
For one curator, the challenge comes from getting people interested in something they might not usually enjoy: stamps. This curator, who has collected stamps since she was young, looks to inspire a similar devotion with visitors to the stamp museum where she works. That’s not always easy, especially since stamps are tiny and the art of writing letters is falling out of fashion. However, this curator uses her creativity — along with the power of storytelling — to get people excited about stamps. A recent successful exhibit that she curated focused on the fantasy world of “Harry Potter.” The show featured a collection of stamps, along with interactive displays that included a collaboration with technology students that allowed visitors to cast “spells” via a wand and radio waves. Other shows included an exploration of Shakespeare and even an entire exhibit devoted to anime. Visitors had the opportunity to view anime-themed stamps, as well as rare and interesting figurines and artwork from a variety of fandoms.
Another curator focuses on the preservation of memories. At her facility, which highlights Indian heritage and art, the curator has used her own story as an immigrant to connect with the items that are on display. She successfully convinced a number of people to donate items to the center that most might discount as just being ordinary. But with the help and care of this curator, the items take on beauty and new meaning in context. In one room, hundreds of colorful bowls are suspended on the walls, creating an irresistible pattern and texture for viewers. The curator has helped to restore and preserve many items that would’ve otherwise been ruined by time and poor storage, and now people can see and learn from them.
A third curator left a much more lucrative career in moviemaking to engage with audiences in a different way. Two decades later, she has made her mark on a number of different arts facilities in Singapore. Perhaps her strangest exhibit she curated included cajoling an undertaker to loan her a coffin so she could make an even bigger impression on visitors during a show on funeral rituals. Now, she works for Singapore’s National Library, reaching out to visitors in new and immersive ways.
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Read more about the lives and work of art curators in Singapore by visiting http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/telling-stories-in-a-museum.