Dates

November 3-4, 2024

Location

Shui An Shan Ju Resort, Xiangshan Campus, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou

Host

China Academy of Art

Organizers

National Institute of Art/Education, CAASchool of Intermedia Art, CAA

Convener

Institute of Contemporary Art and Social Thoughts, CAA

Contact

icast@caa.edu.cn

 

Theme

 

"Intermission: Curatorial Studies/Education?" stems from a sense of reality: we seem to be in a period of stagnation in both art and human history at this moment. The previous act has ended, while the next has yet to begin. The grandeur of the past has faded, and the new historical tone is still awaiting its definitive articulation—awkward "intermission" is still in search of its Mission.

The "intermission" is not only an "intermission" for contemporary art but also for broader cultural and political realities. For art today, it is both the background and, more importantly, the working object. We observe that the activities of the art world are increasingly caught in an involution cycle turning into a stagnated routine carnival that occurs regularly at different intervals. On the other hand, technology and the social structures it shapes are rapidly changing, chaotic opinions (doxa) are becoming more cacophonous and divisive, people are constantly being segmented and polarized... Those phenomena have naturally become the material for much of today's art creation and exhibitions. However, this still falls short of the preparation needed to open a new big play.

From the space where art and works emerge, tracing back to the theater of mass media, society, and art, a complex cycle of symbols, power, meaning, and value gradually appears. We find ourselves in this "intermission" moment. The current situation is all too familiar: contemporary art is undergoing a global crisis, and artists are struggling in a state of double powerlessness, having lost the ability to shape history and lead. We have entered a "post-historical" condition, calling for a rethinking of art's political nature and space, as well as a rediscovery of self-perception and history. In such an "intermission", filled with deep spiritual crisis and paralyzed action, how can we navigate through the immense vortex both inside and outside the theater, break through the seamless links of meaning fabricated by the art system, and transform this "intermission" into an opportunity to reignite action? 

This stagnant "intermission" may also present an opportunity—a chance to break the stillness through questioning: within the political economy of contemporary art, what is suppressing the power of the spirit? What is causing our dissatisfaction? What is obstructing the path to liberation? How can we clearly describe this condition? How can we escape the deadlock of artistic creation? How can we discover the inner frontiers of the "art world" that has been captured by global capitalism? Is it possible for contemporary art practices to pioneer a new mode of production? And as curatorial action has long served as a radical force, could it become a fulcrum to transcend this "intermission"? How can curatorial education sow the seeds for such change?

The "intermission" is also a time for reflecting on education, as its mission is to continually create new subjects. What this "intermission" needs to produce is not only new knowledge but, more importantly, new pathways for knowledge production. Beyond scientific and speculative knowledge, new paradigms of knowledge must be explored. Art is the path jointly evolved by the two mental states of "teaching" and "learning". This path guides us to continually critique and experiment. We reinterpret reality with our sensitivity, and we propose ideas to society and the times with our imagination. This process itself is a form of curatorial education.

Art can be seen as a curatorial form of life education, integrating the education of nature, aesthetics, and life into a unified whole, aimed at fostering and shaping the "new generation" and "new knowledge". The liberation of both humanity and art is the fundamental premise and purpose of our gathering at this moment, as we collectively explore the potential of curatorial studies and education.

The Symposium will focus on four subtopics, and we hope that applicants for the Youth Panel will use this as a reference.

The Educational Turn in Contemporary Curating

The Curatorial Turn in Education?

Curatorial Education as Liberal Arts Education

The Politics of Action in Curatorial Education

 

 

List of Speakers for the Main Symposium

 

Ute Meta Bauer, Professor at the School of Art, Design and Media at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Beatrice Von Bismarck, Professor, Initiator of MA Cultures of the Curatorial at Leipzig Academy of Visual Arts, Leipzig, Germany.

Zoe Butt, Founder of In-tangible Institute, Chiangmai, Thailand.

Chang Tsong-zung, Founder of Hanart TZ Gallery, co-founder of Asia Art Archive, Hong Kong, China.

Lauren Cornell, Director of the Graduate Program and Chief Curator at the Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College, New York, USA.

Octavian Esanu, Associate Professor in the Department of Fine Arts and Art History and Director/Curator of AUB Art Galleries, American University of Beirut (AUB), Beirut, Lebanon.

Janna Graham, Senior Lecturer, Senior Lecturer in Visual Cultures and Programme Leader of the BA in Curating at Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK.

Lu Jie, Professor, Director of Institute of Contemporary Art and Social Thoughts, Professor at China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China.

Tobi Maier, Chief-Curator at Amant, New York, USA.

Gabi Ngcobo, Director of Kunstinstituut Melly, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Karen Smith, Head of Academic Affairs at De Ying Foundation, Shanghai, China.

Terry Smith, Andrew W. Mellon Emeritus Professor of the History of Art and Architecture at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA.

 

Open call for Youth Panel participants 

 

We sincerely invite young curators, researchers, and practitioners in curatorial studies/education and related fields to participate in the Youth Panel section of the upcoming international Symposium "Intermission: Curatorial Studies/Education?". This international Symposium is hosted by the China Academy of Art, organized by School of Intermedia Art, National Institute of Art/Education and executed by the Institute of Contemporary Art and Social Thoughts(ICAST). It will be held on November 3-4, 2024, at the Xiangshan Campus of the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou.

The Symposium consists of two parts: the Main Symposium will gather leaders from curatorial education departments across continents, experts from significant museums, biennials, and foundations around the world who focus on curatorial research and education, as well as professionals from collectives, self-organized, and experimental institutions with rich local curatorial practice, research, and educational experience. to come together and discuss the history, current status, and future of curatorial education. The Youth Panel will provide a platform for young curators, researchers, and practitioners in curatorial studies/education to express their views and engage in conversations.

Since the open call for Youth Panel participants was released on September 10, the Symposium has received wide attention and enthusiastic submissions. At the same time, we continue to welcome young curators, researchers, and practitioners with long-term interest, research, and reflections in curatorial studies/education and related fields to actively participate! 

 

Application Requirements

 

Please send the required materials to icast@caa.edu.cn with the subject line "Open call for Youth Panel participants ". In the email, please include your name, affiliated institution, and contact details. We will notify selected participants after the review process. The email should contain the following materials: 

A personal bio (within 500 words) including basic information, research focus, and previous experience. An abstract of the proposed speech (within 500 words). The speech topic can relate to your personal curatorial research or educational practice and reflections. It should be related to the theme (including sub-topics) of the symposium. Each speech will have a duration of 15 minutes per speaker.

Submissions can be in either Chinese or English. Full papers are required post-symposium for publication purposes.

Application Deadline: October 12, 2024

Notification of Results: October 17, 2024

Full Paper Submission Deadline: December 17, 2024

Please submit your application materials before October 12, 2024. Selected speakers will receive an official invitation from the symposium committee, offering the opportunity to engage in deep exchanges with curatorial education experts and peers from around the world.

 

Additional Notes

 

The symposium will provide simultaneous translation, and speeches can be given in either Chinese or English. Travel expenses will be borne by the presenters themselves, and the organizers will not arrange them. If the full paper is not submitted by the deadline, the organizer reserves the right to cancel its inclusion in the publication. Papers from selected participants will be included in the official publication of the Panel 21 Art/Education in the 21st Century. Authors will not be required to pay publication fees, and the organizers will not provide any remuneration for the papers.

For any further inquiries, please contact us via email.

 

Dates

November 3-4, 2024

Location

Shui An Shan Ju Resort, Xiangshan Campus, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou

Host

China Academy of Art

Organizers

National Institute of Art/Education, CAASchool of Intermedia Art, CAA

Convener

Institute of Contemporary Art and Social Thoughts, CAA

Contact

icast@caa.edu.cn

 

Theme

 

"Intermission: Curatorial Studies/Education?" stems from a sense of reality: we seem to be in a period of stagnation in both art and human history at this moment. The previous act has ended, while the next has yet to begin. The grandeur of the past has faded, and the new historical tone is still awaiting its definitive articulation—awkward "intermission" is still in search of its Mission.

The "intermission" is not only an "intermission" for contemporary art but also for broader cultural and political realities. For art today, it is both the background and, more importantly, the working object. We observe that the activities of the art world are increasingly caught in an involution cycle turning into a stagnated routine carnival that occurs regularly at different intervals. On the other hand, technology and the social structures it shapes are rapidly changing, chaotic opinions (doxa) are becoming more cacophonous and divisive, people are constantly being segmented and polarized... Those phenomena have naturally become the material for much of today's art creation and exhibitions. However, this still falls short of the preparation needed to open a new big play.

From the space where art and works emerge, tracing back to the theater of mass media, society, and art, a complex cycle of symbols, power, meaning, and value gradually appears. We find ourselves in this "intermission" moment. The current situation is all too familiar: contemporary art is undergoing a global crisis, and artists are struggling in a state of double powerlessness, having lost the ability to shape history and lead. We have entered a "post-historical" condition, calling for a rethinking of art's political nature and space, as well as a rediscovery of self-perception and history. In such an "intermission", filled with deep spiritual crisis and paralyzed action, how can we navigate through the immense vortex both inside and outside the theater, break through the seamless links of meaning fabricated by the art system, and transform this "intermission" into an opportunity to reignite action? 

This stagnant "intermission" may also present an opportunity—a chance to break the stillness through questioning: within the political economy of contemporary art, what is suppressing the power of the spirit? What is causing our dissatisfaction? What is obstructing the path to liberation? How can we clearly describe this condition? How can we escape the deadlock of artistic creation? How can we discover the inner frontiers of the "art world" that has been captured by global capitalism? Is it possible for contemporary art practices to pioneer a new mode of production? And as curatorial action has long served as a radical force, could it become a fulcrum to transcend this "intermission"? How can curatorial education sow the seeds for such change?

The "intermission" is also a time for reflecting on education, as its mission is to continually create new subjects. What this "intermission" needs to produce is not only new knowledge but, more importantly, new pathways for knowledge production. Beyond scientific and speculative knowledge, new paradigms of knowledge must be explored. Art is the path jointly evolved by the two mental states of "teaching" and "learning". This path guides us to continually critique and experiment. We reinterpret reality with our sensitivity, and we propose ideas to society and the times with our imagination. This process itself is a form of curatorial education.

Art can be seen as a curatorial form of life education, integrating the education of nature, aesthetics, and life into a unified whole, aimed at fostering and shaping the "new generation" and "new knowledge". The liberation of both humanity and art is the fundamental premise and purpose of our gathering at this moment, as we collectively explore the potential of curatorial studies and education.

The Symposium will focus on four subtopics, and we hope that applicants for the Youth Panel will use this as a reference.

The Educational Turn in Contemporary Curating

The Curatorial Turn in Education?

Curatorial Education as Liberal Arts Education

The Politics of Action in Curatorial Education

 

 

List of Speakers for the Main Symposium

 

Ute Meta Bauer, Professor at the School of Art, Design and Media at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Beatrice Von Bismarck, Professor, Initiator of MA Cultures of the Curatorial at Leipzig Academy of Visual Arts, Leipzig, Germany.

Zoe Butt, Founder of In-tangible Institute, Chiangmai, Thailand.

Chang Tsong-zung, Founder of Hanart TZ Gallery, co-founder of Asia Art Archive, Hong Kong, China.

Lauren Cornell, Director of the Graduate Program and Chief Curator at the Center for Curatorial Studies, Bard College, New York, USA.

Octavian Esanu, Associate Professor in the Department of Fine Arts and Art History and Director/Curator of AUB Art Galleries, American University of Beirut (AUB), Beirut, Lebanon.

Janna Graham, Senior Lecturer, Senior Lecturer in Visual Cultures and Programme Leader of the BA in Curating at Goldsmiths, University of London, London, UK.

Lu Jie, Professor, Director of Institute of Contemporary Art and Social Thoughts, Professor at China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China.

Tobi Maier, Chief-Curator at Amant, New York, USA.

Gabi Ngcobo, Director of Kunstinstituut Melly, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Karen Smith, Head of Academic Affairs at De Ying Foundation, Shanghai, China.

Terry Smith, Andrew W. Mellon Emeritus Professor of the History of Art and Architecture at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA.

 

Open call for Youth Panel participants 

 

We sincerely invite young curators, researchers, and practitioners in curatorial studies/education and related fields to participate in the Youth Panel section of the upcoming international Symposium "Intermission: Curatorial Studies/Education?". This international Symposium is hosted by the China Academy of Art, organized by School of Intermedia Art, National Institute of Art/Education and executed by the Institute of Contemporary Art and Social Thoughts(ICAST). It will be held on November 3-4, 2024, at the Xiangshan Campus of the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou.

The Symposium consists of two parts: the Main Symposium will gather leaders from curatorial education departments across continents, experts from significant museums, biennials, and foundations around the world who focus on curatorial research and education, as well as professionals from collectives, self-organized, and experimental institutions with rich local curatorial practice, research, and educational experience. to come together and discuss the history, current status, and future of curatorial education. The Youth Panel will provide a platform for young curators, researchers, and practitioners in curatorial studies/education to express their views and engage in conversations.

Since the open call for Youth Panel participants was released on September 10, the Symposium has received wide attention and enthusiastic submissions. At the same time, we continue to welcome young curators, researchers, and practitioners with long-term interest, research, and reflections in curatorial studies/education and related fields to actively participate! 

 

Application Requirements

 

Please send the required materials to icast@caa.edu.cn with the subject line "Open call for Youth Panel participants ". In the email, please include your name, affiliated institution, and contact details. We will notify selected participants after the review process. The email should contain the following materials: 

A personal bio (within 500 words) including basic information, research focus, and previous experience. An abstract of the proposed speech (within 500 words). The speech topic can relate to your personal curatorial research or educational practice and reflections. It should be related to the theme (including sub-topics) of the symposium. Each speech will have a duration of 15 minutes per speaker.

Submissions can be in either Chinese or English. Full papers are required post-symposium for publication purposes.

Application Deadline: October 12, 2024

Notification of Results: October 17, 2024

Full Paper Submission Deadline: December 17, 2024

Please submit your application materials before October 12, 2024. Selected speakers will receive an official invitation from the symposium committee, offering the opportunity to engage in deep exchanges with curatorial education experts and peers from around the world.

 

Additional Notes

 

The symposium will provide simultaneous translation, and speeches can be given in either Chinese or English. Travel expenses will be borne by the presenters themselves, and the organizers will not arrange them. If the full paper is not submitted by the deadline, the organizer reserves the right to cancel its inclusion in the publication. Papers from selected participants will be included in the official publication of the Panel 21 Art/Education in the 21st Century. Authors will not be required to pay publication fees, and the organizers will not provide any remuneration for the papers.

For any further inquiries, please contact us via email.