Students Curatorial Studies in conversation with S.M.A.K. conservators

Curatorial Studies students took classes at S.M.A.K. around conservation and restoration of contemporary art. They gained insight into the basics of conservation and restoration, learned how to work with curators, ask the right questions and make decisions when exhibiting artworks.

Curatorial Studies students visited S.M.A.K. as part of the new course "Conservation: Curatorial Perspectives". They were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the depositories, discussed some cases of conservation and restoration and viewed some new works in the S.M.A.K. collection.

Although there seems to be a strict separation between the frontstage and backstage life of artworks in the museum, curating and conservation go hand in hand in contemporary art. Therefore, knowledge on contemporary art conservation is invaluable to complement the broad skills that contemporary curators must possess.