I studied Fine Art at Byam Shaw and then went on to do a BA in Italian and Industrial Design at UCL and Il Politecnico di Milano. I then stayed in Italy for about seven years, working in advertising as a TV producer, producing short films and adverts. I also worked on brand and strategy management within ad agencies and latterly worked on viral ad campaigns, both on the creative and production side.
When the recession hit, the advertising industry was deeply affected and I re-evaluated where I wanted my focus to be. Curating seemed like the perfect match between the two sides I’d been developing up to that point - the conceptual and the practical. I’ve always worked in an interdisciplinary way, so curating seemed like a logical progression.
Before coming to the RCA, I’d worked in London galleries and heard positive things about the course. I came to the open day as a result and realised the Royal College would be a great atmosphere to be in. The balance between theory and practice offered in the CCA programme seemed right for me. The conversation between theory and practice results in a fully integrated approach to curating.
Group work is central to the CCA programme structure and, although challenging, is an interesting way to learn. Other curating courses are based on individual practice, but at the RCA group projects accelerate the learning process and facilitate the sharing of ideas.
The first group project I worked on was Monique Beudert. I introduced the framework of a ‘Speed Show’, which originated in the States and takes curating out of a conventional gallery space. This was the first time the format had been adopted for the London scene. An Internet café is taken over for one night to show Internet art in its natural habitat. In taking the curatorial voice out of the galley environment another audience is addressed – a transient one that uses an Internet café in the UK. By using the Internet café as gallery you also invite a reflection on the global role of Internet cafes.The Monique Beudert foundation seeks to raise the profile of artists from the Americas and the process of researching artists from North and South America offered the opportunity to collectively extend our knowledge base.
In the first year, the teaching blocks were intense. I particularly enjoyed the film teaching block as it focused on one of my main areas of interest. In the second year the focus is on the dissertation and the group final show. The individual research undertaken for the dissertation allows the students to pursue their own areas of interest – I focused on systems theory and its relationship to hybrid art practices. The process of developing the final group show No one lives here has been a rewarding experience - collective curating is stimulating and clarifies your own curatorial philosophy.
I intend to develop my curatorial practice after completing my MA and would like to work within film and art, cultivating a critical position, engaging with audiences through film and presenting artwork. I am currently working on an Interactive Documentary for the final exhibition and hope to pursue this area further.
The CCA has had a focus on international perspectives and globalisation but this may take a more feminist direction with the arrival of (Head of Programme) Ruth Noack.
Before applying to the Royal College of Art, I studied Chinese contemporary art and curatorial practices at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Peking University, Beijing, and the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. I wanted to build up my understanding of contemporary art and curatorial practices, and I thought that the RCA would be the best place for me to develop my academic research. As an international student with an interest in global dialogues, I wanted to share my own culture, experiences and knowledge, and hoped to learn from others.
I received a Curatorial Studies grant from Fundación Marcelino Botín in Santander and then obtained a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation to undertake research in curating contemporary art in India at the School of Arts and Aesthetics at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, where I am associated researcher.
My interest in curating Indian contemporary art is part of an ongoing long-term research project focused on Asian contemporary art. This PhD has given me the opportunity to study with prestigious academics and to work with the two universities in London and Delhi where I have been able to increase my knowledge of both Indian contemporary art and contemporary curatorial practices. I am currently living in India doing fieldwork, and will soon return to London to complete my PhD. After finishing my studies, I shall continue my academic work as professor and researcher and also hope to work curating exhibitions in my specialist field.