The fourth module was held from November 7 to 11 and was in charge of Natalia de la Rosa, doctor in art history.
This was the most academic module of all, in the best sense of the term. In the previous ones we were investigating more about works and artistic concepts, related or not, with our projects; in this the axis started from the exhibition space, revolving around the concept of museum.
Being the penultimate module, it was important not only to begin to define pieces but also exhibition solutions, how and where the finished work would be. For this, we went to the space destined for the expo, the multipurpose room of the Center for the Arts of San Agustín. Although at that time it was not sufficiently qualified, the experience served to see the space in general and to have ideas about assemblies and museum possibilities.
AND SPEAKING OF MUSEUM...
Natalia's presentations revolved around this, how it has changed over the years, going from its birth, as institutions that wanted to show concepts such as prestige, progress and power, to more consolidated institutions under the protection, mainly, of the state. – which is generally the concept that most of us have -, more monolithic, with particular themes and buildings that refer us to solemn and quiet places.
Nowadays, however, the museum, like the concept of art, has been advancing and iterating towards other places, perhaps more relevant to the realities where it decides to affect and place itself. Today the exhibition spaces dedicated to exhibiting art are much more versatile, they are not always anchored to a specific building or one of colossal dimensions or with materials and/or places that refer us to History in capital letters. Today's museum is a space that can be itinerant, a building that was previously redefined for culture, an interface within a website, an open space or public thoroughfare.
ITERATIONS
The museum, out of necessity and/or pertinence, has changed to connect with the people, because although the museum is the quintessential place where culture lives and can be seen, it has also been a place where to access you have to overcome obstacles that they do not have to do with the payment of a ticket, but with the ideas around what is understood as culture. Let's be honest, many times the problem with the museum, and with art exhibitions, has nothing to do with what is shown, but with the way of communicating what is exhibited, from unintelligible room texts to zero dissemination; the museum becomes a space “for connoisseurs”, where art intended for artists is shown.
Nobody wants to spend their free time going to a place that makes them feel ignorant, and although not everything depends on the museum, since the viewer also has a degree of responsibility, institutions often fall short of things that they could solve or do more accessible.
Perhaps for this reason, in recent years countless independent spaces, cultural centers, self-managed projects, galleries and a long etc. have emerged, which show what is happening in their neighborhoods, cities, towns and communities. They don't use museum names, at least not most of the time, but they serve that function. There are many people who are interested in and like culture, they just ask for an accessible way to enter the experience.
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As a creator, I witness the need that people have to consume art in any of its forms, in any of the modalities that can be consumed, and in the cold response of the artistic community, in most cases, to satisfy that need. . However, knowledge about something requires a commitment over time regarding what you want to know; Going once a year to see art and complaining about not understanding is not the responsibility of the exhibition space. Let everyone do their part.