Curating Collectives: The Collective, The Belonging, and The Body

Abstract

In this research paper, I will attempt to understand human interaction, development, and comprehension of personal emotions. I will approach this from both a curatorial standpoint and through the lens of the collective. To begin, I will describe how this started to stem in my head. I will also attempt to look back at how certain collectives started, their purpose, and their intentions. I will try to look back at the history of it all and study specific cases that have distinctive outcomes, and are of interest to this paper. Then, delve more into the research to the core of it all; how do these groups function in this post-internet age? After that, consider and ponder the ethics of it. And while contemplating that, I will question the importance of these groups and collectives and their value to the contemporary. Next, I will question the necessity of this piece of research as a curator. And furthermore, I will look extensively at defining terms such as ‘the body’ in an art context, the collective, and social curating. Ultimately, the aim of this paper is to gain a better understanding and knowledge of how these collectives are formed, and for what purposes they need to exist. Do these collectives need institutions or reasons to legitimize their work and practice, and who decides these things? This research will also attempt to understand the connection between collectives globally. How can they work to help with bigger causes to be seen and break censorship barriers? And most importantly, as curators, how can we create a similar environment where we can savor this feeling of being able to create freely with others who are like-minded, with a focus on collaborating, and making a dent in the substantial accumulation that is our existence?