Carol K. Huh, CCT '05, was appointed the Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art at the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, which together constitute the national museum for Asian art at the Smithsonian Institution. While the Freer and Sackler galleries have been exhibiting modern and contemporary art for over a decade, this is the first time that a curator in contemporary art has been appointed for this area. In this position, Huh is responsible for all of the contemporary programming for the museum.
In the last decades, Asian artists have played an increasingly critical global role in defining the nature and tenure of contemporary art. Some continue to use traditional mediums and formats and their work is rooted in the past, while others use both traditional and new media to explore social and cultural conditions that are specific to their current environments and historical contexts. Building upon the founding vision of Charles Lang Freer--to focus on "art works that illuminate Asian art and culture"-- the contemporary program of exhibitions and events presents to the public the critical engagements of artists exploring today's conditions of social and cultural transformation, thus encouraging new ways of thinking about Asia.
See this press release about her first small installation as curator. There are other events coming, including a new web page for the contemporary program, so check in periodically for video art screenings and talks at www.asia.si.edu.