Angelica Romanazzi - art curator
There is a tendency to cram anything visual - from tags to low-budget clips, from fine oils to incomprehensible installations - into a Visual Art category. Isn’t this too broad a classification? In recent years modern art exhibits show a propensity towards artistic expressions, so odd, that might be comprehensible only to its creator. When does art stop being ‘art’? Does 'perfection' exist? If you had five minutes of absolute power over the world, what would you change? Which has been the most gratifying moment or time of your career? And the most difficult - how have you overcome it? What is hope? What advice do you have for any aspiring young Pugliesi working around the world?
With a thesis on the London Contemporary Art Design Market, Angelica Romanazzi, a graduate from the University of the Arts of London, gained a Masters degree in Enterprise and Management for Creative Arts. Angelica has an extensive work history developed in the contemporary art and design sectors including positions as Executive Assistant, Independent Art Curator and Consultant in London and Milan. She is currently collaborating as Art Director with Accademia Apulia and curates the art and design section of The Wealth Collection (Deloitte Private Clients official magazine).
The Accademia has asked Angelica Romanazzi the following quesitons:
An Art Critic can move promiscuously through material of all kind. A curator, on the other hand, has a responsibility to collect art. How true is this statement?
Quite frankly I don’t like the definition art critic… a good art curator, as you said, has the responsibility to create a meaningful collection and exhibition, which is not about putting together a series of greatest hits. Creating a good collection and producing a good exhibition means telling a story, communicating thoughts and ethics. There are also Art Historians or Art Experts whose writing and researching work is remarkable and essential to the sector.
What is your area of expertise?
I am a contemporary and postwar furniture design specialist. I studied history of art and history of decorative arts; since then I have been exploring the relation and the semantic links between contemporary art and contemporary design. This led me to work in both fields.
How does one become an Art Curator?
The paths which bring you to become an art curator are many. They change significantly according to the company/organization you work with. However, you do need to be passionate about art (preferably, interested in a specific aspect of art). It’s important to be up-to-date with the current curatorial issues, and … it’s essential to be patient and … a bit lucky.
Well… this is a very interesting question. The word visual has a broad meaning as it encompasses many aspects of the visual art practice. Of course there is the risk, as you say, to cram together anything visual; it is the responsibility of honest and knowledgeable experts, as well as aware art-lovers, to select what is aesthetically and ethically meaningful and what is not.
‘Stop being art?, perhaps you mean conceptual. It’s true that from the end of the 19th century many visual artists tend to be more focused on their intimacy in the sense that they are communicating their perception of things/life from a very subjective point of view. Nevertheless, as I said before, it’s up to curators and educators to provide people with the critical and educational framework to access conceptual art.
Maybe… and if it does I think we are too blind or too busy to appreciate it.
I am a humanist and believe in human freewill (and hopefully goodwill) to make things better. Perhaps I would try to create a sort of multi-media (internet & TV?) free and independent company to make people better aware of what’s going on around us - what do you think?
The Modern and Contemporary Design auction at Sotheby’s London (October 2008).
Difficult moments are ‘endemic’ in this job; in particular if you are an independent curator. Strength, goodwill and passion helped me.
Waking up in the morning and having something to care in the world and to fight for it.
Not to forget their roots and heritage as self awareness will help them to succeed.
Where to study art in London - useful links
