Résumés
This article examines the challenges encountered and insights gained in the curatorial process of ‘Asian youth in public spaces’ (2021), a photography exhibition based on the project GENEsYs (ULB). More specifically, I engage in a blend of reflective practice and retrospective theorising concerning the curation and circulation of the exhibition. Firstly, I delve into the challenges of managing and arranging the curated materials, a heterogeneous group of 41 photographs taken by researchers with different disciplinary backgrounds. Theoretical and ethical dilemmas arose during the process, requiring careful negotiation to ensure that the exhibition served as a platform for critical engagement rather than perpetuating harmful stereotypes or misunderstandings. Secondly, I explore two aspects of curatorial inquiry that emerged as the exhibition travelled to various institutions, namely “curatorship as research” and “exhibitions as research”. Shown to different academic communities, ‘Asian youth in public spaces’ served as a dynamic platform for discussion and debate, generating a “research surplus” also due to the events that surrounded its circulation.
This article aims to shed light on the intricacies involved in both curating and disseminating the exhibition, underscoring its capacity as a space for critical examination and intellectual interaction.
Cet article analyse les défis et les enseignements du processus curatorial de l’exposition photographique ‘Asian youth in public spaces’, organisée au départ du projet GENEsYs (ULB). Il se veut à la croisée d’une pratique réflexive et d’une théorisation rétrospective concernant le montage et la circulation de l’exposition photographique. Tout d’abord, je me penche sur les défis posés par la gestion et l’agencement des matériaux exposés, soit 41 photographies prises par des chercheurs de backgrounds disciplinaires différents. La sélection a donné lieu à des dilemmes théoriques et éthiques débouchant sur une négociation minutieuse afin de garantir l’utilisation de l’exposition comme plateforme pour un engagement critique, en évitant de perpétuer des stéréotypes. Ensuite, j’explore deux concepts qui ont émergé au fur et à mesure de la circulation de l’exposition dans diverses institutions, à savoir, «le montage muséal en tant que recherche» et «l’exposition en tant que recherche . Présentée à différentes communautés universitaires, ‘Asian youth in public spaces’ a servi de plateforme de discussion et de débat, générant un surplus de recherche, en raison notamment des événements qui ont entouré sa circulation. L’article vise, finalement, à souligner l’importance de l’exposition en tant qu’espace d’examen critique et d’interaction intellectuelle.
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Plan
Introduction
Curator as research
The practical challenge
The theoretical challenge
The ethical challenge
Exhibition as research
Conclusion
Aperçu du début du texte
Introduction
This article outlines the curatorial process of the photo exhibition ‘Asian youth in public spaces’, from the early stages of its inception to its circulation to different academic institutions. The exhibition, curated by myself and Lisa Richaud, premiered in May 2021 as a key initiative stemming from GENEsYs, a five-year interdisciplinary project focused on investigating the interplay between youth identity formation and public spaces in East and Southeast Asia. Conceived as a “research exhibition” (Niedderer, Biggs & Ferris 2006), the primary aim was to broaden the dissemination of GENEsYs and foster public debate around the topics at stake. For this reason, the exhibition was designed to be presented both virtually and as a tangible venue for interpersonal engagement and exchange. In its material form, the exhibition comprised twenty 60 x 90 cm aluminium panels. Featuring forty-one photographs by ten members of GENEsYs, it was first on show at the Université libre de ...
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Référence papier
Van Minh Nguyen, « Research as exhibition and exhibition as research: The curatorial process of “Asian youth in public spaces” », Civilisations, 72 | 2023, 185-199.
Référence électronique
Van Minh Nguyen, « Research as exhibition and exhibition as research: The curatorial process of “Asian youth in public spaces” », Civilisations [En ligne], 72 | 2023, mis en ligne le 01 janvier 2027, consulté le 13 février 2025. URL : http://journals.openedition.org/civilisations/7871 ; DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/12t9c
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Auteur
PhD candidate at the Université libre de Bruxelles (LAMC; EASt), his research focuses on the dynamic interplay between urbanization, economic transition, and youth culture in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. He investigates how young city dwellers navigate and shape urban spaces, examining the intersection of mobility patterns and intimate relationships in the context of a rapidly evolving metropolis. Central to his work is the exploration of how youth creatively appropriate public spaces, transforming them into platforms for self-expression, gender negotiation, and social distinction | Laboratoire d’anthropologie des mondes contemporains (LAMC), Université libre de Bruxelles, avenue Franklin Roosevelt 50, CP 124, 1050 Brussels, Belgium – Van.Minh.Nguyen[at]ulb.be
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