E-curating: Evolution of Exhibition Curation in the Digital Age

As the landscape of art, museum and exhibitions has evolved, the new visitor’s expectation from an exhibition has also changed significantly. The access and availability of content has resulted in inundating and overwhelming the audience making the curator a mediator who facilitates a meaningful and relevant experience. Even with funding and resource constraints, the opportunities afforded by digital technologies have redefined how a curator discovers, selects and showcases the thematic material. With respect to interpretation, communication and circulation of content as well, digital tools have helped us move beyond traditional methods. This article looks at three different exhibitions with completely different approaches to curation to look at how digital tools have been utilized to make the exhibition experience unique and meaningful for a varied set of audiences. We further explore how different mediums and formats can be used in unusual combinations to make the visitor experience new and exciting. Apart from tangible artforms on display, how digital tools help showcase intangible cultural heritage and their interconnections are also explored. Looking beyond the narrative of creation of virtual museums or AR/VR experiences in the cultural landscape, this article attempts to highlight the digital pathways using simple technological solutions that can enhance the curatorial experience. It demonstrates how the democratization process with digital tools is manifold, in consumption, creation as well curation of art, culture and heritage.