TEXTE ZUR KUNST
June 2012
in cooperation with Beatrice von Bismarck
The June issue of Texte zur Kunst is dedicated to the curator, a figure in the art field that has gained authority over the past two decades. Ever since Harald Szeemann’s trendsetting documenta 5 (1972), “the independent curator” has counted as a new preeminent player in the art world. No longer employed by a museum but instead an initiator and author of project-based presentations at various institutions, the figure of the curator is also associated with the emergence of thematic group shows in which artworks, everyday objects, and documents, as equally treated exhibits, are meant to illustrate a hypothetical curatorial concept. In the art world of the 1990s—which was characterized by relations and interdisciplinarity, contexts and displays—curatorial activities were both popularized and professionalized. Curators increasingly acted as skilled networkers whose influence also grew due to the rising number of international biennials. At the same time, the notion of the curator or of curating has expanded beyond the confined boundaries of the art field and can now be found in all areas of cultural production. Against this backdrop the June issue of Texte zur Kunst examines how this rapid rise came about and what curatorial power really means. Thus, a perspective is opened that allows taking a fundamental look at the hegemonic structures in the art business and its effects.
Plus reviews from Berlin, Bregenz, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, New York, Siegen, Vienna, and Winterthur.
Exclusive new artists’ editions:
Nick Mauss, Thomas Ruff, and Imi Knoebel
English content
Preface
Oliver Marchart
The Curatorial Subject
The figure of the curator between individuality and collectivity
Beatrice von Bismarck
Curating Curators
Between Art and Public
A roundtable conversation with Natasa Ilic, Maria Lind, Nicolaus Schafhausen, and Jakob Schillinger
Sabeth Buchmann
29,687
Lucy R. Lippard: Curating (Within) the System
Heinz Bude
The Curator as Meta-Artist
The case of HUO
Values and Interests
Survey among artists on the relationship to curators, with contributions by Monica Bonvicini, Claire Fontaine, Mariechen Danz, Olaf Nicolai, Adrian Piper, Thomas Scheibitz
Dieter Roelstraete
Art Work
Some notes on status anxiety
Reviews
Mark Prince
Through a Looking Glass
On John Smith at Tanya Leighton, Berlin, and Kestnergesellschaft, Hannover
John Beeson
Kill yr. Idols
On You Killed Me First at KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin
Tal Sterngast
Attention, Deficit, Disorder
On Dirk Bell at Sadie Coles HQ, London
Comments on the 7th Berlin Biennial By Sven Lütticken, Margarita Tupitsyn, and Victor Tupitsyn
Pedro De Llano
Eggs Theory
On Hans Haacke at Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid
Liz Kotz
Back to Basics
On Madison Brookshire and Tashi Wada at the Wulf., Los Angeles
Antek Walczak
Rites of Spring
On the Whitney Biennial 2012 at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York
Mark Dion & Gareth James
Jackie McAllister – Silence with Great Eloquence
Artists’ Editions
Nick Mauss
Not another word for it, 2012
Thomas Ruff
Porträt 1989 (I. Graw), 1989/2012
Imi Knoebel
Anima Mundi, 2012
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Texte zur Kunst
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Germany
T +49 (0)30 30 10 453 45
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