Curators' silence during pandemic sparks debate on their role

An article by Ivan D'Alberto on Artribune questions the silence of curators during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompted by a young artist's Facebook query. The author notes that early pandemic news focused on museum closures and event cancellations, followed by an 'deafening silence' as cultural professionals faced an inability to perform their roles. D'Alberto recalls Daniel Spoerri's 1963 exhibition at Galerie J in Paris, where critics acted as waiters, suggesting curators are 'good waiters' who facilitate art's connection with the public. He argues that for the first time since WWII, art lacks its 'ferrymen.' The author posits that artists are working at full capacity, while curators must rely on their own creativity to survive the crisis. He draws historical parallels to the Black Death and subsequent Renaissance, suggesting the pandemic may act as a 'cleansing' that leads to a 'speciation' where some perish and others are reborn. D'Alberto concludes that curators are currently 'polishing glasses and cutlery' to prepare new 'banquets,' implying a future resurgence.