Christophe Kihm's Inquiry into the Multifaceted Role of Curators

In a 2010 article for Art Press, Christophe Kihm examines the role of contemporary art curators in France through the survey titled "Les commissaires d'exposition d'art contemporain en France. Portrait socioprofessionnel." The findings indicate that few curators define themselves exclusively in that capacity, often seeing curating as an additional function. Kihm asserts that curatorial responsibilities are complex, encompassing everything from concept creation to installation. He differentiates between viewing curating as varied activities and as decision-making linked to "exhibition-form." Referencing Hans Ulrich Obrist's "A Brief History of Curating," he underscores the curator's connection to institutions. Kihm also critiques the art criticism field for overlooking curatorial methods and proposes examining exhibitions through "montage," invoking Nelson Goodman’s idea of "implementation" to argue that curators enhance the visibility and comprehension of artworks beyond simple aesthetic preferences.