Curators and Australian art history

Abstract

Most Australians do not read art history, but they do look at art in museums. There, visitors experience displays that embody art histories. The enthusiasms and research interests of curators combine with collection strengths to create these art histories. In this process, particular artists, ideas and mediums are privileged. Drawing on personal experience this talk looked at some examples of influential curators, displays, exhibitions and collecting programs over the last thirty years. In the process I hope to reveal the role of curators in making Australian art history. I also examine the way in which the demands of objects have led to new shapes for art history, have broken up or cemented orthodoxies and created stimulating juxtapositions.

Keywords

• curators
• creating art history
• exhibitions
• displays
• role of museums and galleries