Spotlight with Neringa Bumblienė
Neringa Bumblienė, Artistic Director at Vilnius Biennial of Performance Art and Curator at the Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania. Image: by Visvaldas Morkevicius.
Could you tell us a little more about your background and how you got into curating?
I first graduated as an object and interior designer and worked in the field for a few years before beginning more actively working as an artist. One thing followed another, and I was invited to become a curator at the Contemporary Art Centre located in the port town in Lithuania. I felt a need for a more consistent knowledge, so I enrolled for a master’s degree in curatorial studies at the Vilnius Academy of Arts and after the graduation I was accepted to continue my studies at the curatorial school Ecole du MAGASIN in France.
I neither planned, nor dreamt of becoming a curator at the beginning and it was not a direct path, but it thought me many things that are in different ways helpful in what I do today. And I am very grateful to my faith and my stamina which got me where I am today.
Who/what has influenced your curatorial practice?
Many inspiring people that I met on my way. While studying at Ecole du MAGASIN I encountered important curators, museum directors and gallerists such as Beatrix Ruf, Esther Schipper, Florence Bonnefous, Fabrice Stroun, among many others, who were generous in opening their worlds and showing the sincere dedication they had towards their practice and artists they were working with. It greatly influenced and shaped my vision as a curator. I am also immensely grateful to all the wonderful artists with whom I had a great privilege to work with. They taught me a great deal what it means to be a professional in the field.
The role of the curator is continuously changing. Could you describe what it means to be a curator today?
I see myself as a mediator between artists, their artworks, art history, contemporary art field, present realities, various funding bodies and audiences. I am facilitating artworks to be presented, seen and comprehended in the best way possible.
Tell us about the latest exhibition or project that you curated?
For the last couple of years, I was working on two major projects. First of them being the Lithuanian Pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennial, presenting Gut Feeling by Robertas Narkus, which opened in April 2022, while the second, Vilnius Biennial of Performance Art, is still underway.
The opening event of the Biennial was held on 23 January 2023 with the performance Aphotia – a new large-scale work by Emilija Škarnulytė at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre. And the Summer Programme, bringing another 17 performances by international artists, will take place 23 July-6 August 2023 in Vilnius public and semi-public spaces. You are very welcome to visit us!
What are you reading, watching, or listening to now, that is helping you to stay relaxed and positive?
I am an admirer of science fiction, and most recently Frank Herberts’ The Dune saga has been a great inspiration to me, and helped in some challenging situations.
How long have you been part of IKT and how do you feel that it has benefited your curatorial practice?
I have been a member of IKT since 2017 and a board member since 2021. The association provides me with a unique opportunity to meet with so many wonderful fellow curators coming from different parts of the world, to have a chance to exchange with them and discover art in various places of this planet.
Thank you Neringa!
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Spotlight
Spotlight is a new series of short interviews, aiming to provide insights about IKT members, their curatorial practice and projects in which they are involved. The series is intended to boost members' engagement with the network and help them find new opportunities for collaboration.
Want to participate?
Send us a request to ikt.curatorial@gmail.com and we will send you interview questions.