Online course at NODE Curatorial Studies Online
Second edition
Aug. 13 – Sept. 3, 2018
Introduction
As more and more artists integrate digital technologies in their work, it is common for curators to deal with the specificities of artworks that move away from the traditional notion of the static object and need to be plugged, configured, maintained or interacted with. The artworks usually labeled as new media art present certain challenges for curators, exhibitions spaces and audiences, while they open up possibilities for different ways of conceiving and developing an exhibition.
This course will focus on curating new media art through three features commonly present in artworks related to technology: process, interaction and virtuality. These aspects will lead us to consider, through a hands-on approach, the practicalities of curating new media art, from the very concept of the exhibition, to developing a project, calculating a budget, installing the artworks and presenting them to the public. Each week, we will discuss these subjects through case studies, suggested readings and sharing ideas.
Program
Week 1. Why curate new media art?
What is new media art?
Narratives in new media art exhibitions
The technology in new media art
Working with new media artists
Week 2. Process
Artworks that won’t stop (or should not)
Explaining processes
When the artwork controls the duration of contemplation
Preserving by curating
Week 3. Interaction
Setting the stage for interactive artworks
Engaging the audience
The exhibition as amusement park
Interaction inside and outside the white cube
Week 4. Virtuality
Not so immaterial: working with net art, AR and VR
Conceiving an exhibition space without objects
Presenting the show to a virtual audience
What will be left, in the end?