Previously published in Revista Arta / Arta Magazine, no. 14-15/ 2015
Bogdan Teodorescu: Which are a curator's best features?
Domenico de Chirico: The question is vague and implies several approaches. For issues related to an easy reading, I prefer a set of elements which are in my opinion, pivotal: the eye, the instinct, a thorough knowledge of art history and philosophy of aesthetics at the same time, curiosity, being up to date, placements, and, despite my personal opinion, even to market dynamics.
BT: Do you often pick your artists and projects rather than being picked by others to work with?
DdC: It depends on the circumstances, but it's all the games around it, which I don't particularly appreciate.
BT: Is a specialized curator preferred to an occasional one (for example artists who manage their shows)? If yes, why?
DdC: Sometimes it could be essential to meet special demands.
BT: You are really very popular and very young!
DdC: I feel myself "physically" very young.
BT: Clarity or not (ambiguity, confusion, plurality...)?
DdC: In the workplace, clarity first.
BT: Solo shows or group shows?
DdC: Both.
BT: Would you voluntarily curate a Damien Hirst show? What about Kanye West?
DdC: I would willingly curate another show. Do you want to know which one?
I don't like very much his music.
BT: Do people frequently ask about your name, thinking about Giorgio de Chirico?
DdC: I can say with certainty that mainly only foreigners often ask me if there is a parental relationship or not with Giorgio de Chirico. Perhaps it means something?
BT: What do you think, curators care about their image (in the same way artists do)?
DdC: Yes.
BT: How important are critics today? Are they still as influential as they used to be? Once some said critics are failed artists.
DdC: I believe it is right to always contextualize.
Personally, I rather prefer how they used to be.
BT: Nowadays fashion is everywhere and more than everything, it's interacting in a very intimate and sometimes confusing, way with art. Do you have any clue on this?
DdC: I taught "Fashion and contemporary art" at IED-European Institute of Design in Milan for more than 2 years and I can say that it's a fascinating subject.
Mixing the two subjects in a way which is both conscious and critical often leads to the creation of interesting phenomena which are representative of the times we live in. For example, the names coming to my mind on this topic are those of K8 Hardy, Centre for Style, Seth Price/Tim Hamilton, and so on.
BT: We live to see the highest prices for art, especially for painting. Besides the financial crisis, can you imagine other reasons?
Consumerism is playing an increasingly important role. About that, in his 1967 essay "The Society of the Spectacle" the French philosopher and writer Guy Debord was already talking about "goods as a show".
BT: Nowadays fashion is everywhere and more than everything, it's interacting in a very intimate and sometimes confusing, way with art. Do you have any clue on this?
DdC: I taught "Fashion and contemporary art" at IED-European Institute of Design in Milan for more than 2 years and I can say that it's a fascinating subject.
Mixing the two subjects in a way which is both conscious and critical often leads to the creation of interesting phenomena which are significant of the times we live in. For example, the names coming to my mind on the subject are the likes of K8 Hardy, Centre for Style, Seth Price/Tim Hamilton, and so on.
BT: How do you find Romanian art scene? How do you see it from outside and from inside (you did a first show in Bucharest this year for Nicodim Gallery1).
DdC: I spent almost eight months in Romania, during my university studies, working on my thesis on Dan Perjovschi, which I wrote in Romanian, Polish and Italian. So you can see how deep my bond with Romanian culture is. And yes, I recently went back there with great pleasure to curate an exhibition at Nicodim Gallery.
Now I can say with certainty that there is great potential, an infinite amount of good vibrations and there are many young artists of great talent. Unfortunately the educational system is strictly linked to religion.
1 What IS a Bird? We Simply Don't Know, Yonatan VINITSKY, Alek O, Răzvan BOAR, Antoine DONZEAUD, Henry CHAPMAN, Kenneth ALME,Virgile ITTAH + Kai YODA
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