• The Journal of Art Theory & Practice
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• no.3
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• pp.51-66
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• 2005

With the advent of the time when the competitiveness of a nation or a city can be evaluated by the extent of cultural reception, the art exhibitions, like other genres of art, are actively held in various ways by different institutions. The spaces of exhibition offered not only by public museums and galleries but also by private galleries, alternative spaces and open-air exhibition spots are being increased. Likewise, the number of exhibitions organized on a large scale by Biennales and local governments is on the increase. In accordance with actual tendency, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has planned to increase the number of museums and galleries up to 500 by the year of 2011. Under these circumstances, the actual situation shows that the central and local governments are adopting beneficial measures to support the private galleries such as permission of construction on green belt areas and tax deduction. That is, our society has come to realize that the necessity and importance of public as well as private galleries to play their roles as cultural and educational institution. Now, the number of galleries is growing. Exhibitions are held everywhere. Therefore, spectators have more chance to visit them than before. With these conditions and the growing number of amateurs, social interest in curator organizing exhibitions is getting popular. Because of the rise of curatorial popularity on the social level, the influence of curators which is exercised within the gallery seems to become gradually enlarged. In reality, it is true that the curatorial influence cannot be ignored more than ever for appear in various fields their new features made from their professional cometence. The function of gallery is more strengthened and its position is more heightened than those in 80s. For these reasons, the curators whose playground is the gallery, they may be regarded as invisible power to the artists. Futhermore, their influence as such seems to be more likely because our world of art does not still have any reliable system of art criticism. Nevertheless, considering the actual situation in which national and public galleries as cultural institution would rather exist on the local sentiments or political dynamics than on autonomy, there must be some restrictions for the galleries and the curators to obtain the power. In this context, the actual moment is looked upon as transitional period to make the curatorship settled down. Before discussing the power relevant to curatorship, we are going to examine first the role and function of curator and then the new curatorial role and function at the age of information. Finally, we will see in sequence the development and problems of curatorship, the power and dilemmas of curator.