Pour Les Curieux

Since the 19th century there has evolved an intimate relationship between the education of artists and their potential public; through the museum and its collection.

Pour Les Curieux explored this evolution, and the educational imperative at the heart of the public museum. We traced the legacy of drawing and copying from artworks and artifacts by students, in the museum and scool themselves. And, the extension of these reproductive practices through the dissemination of exemplary artifacts to Art Academies, through casts and copies of the collection. More recently the use of photography, slide presentations, accompanying video films, lectures, an internet presence and publications have diffused the means of reproduction and education; for artists, the museum and their shared audience.

Pour les Curieux attempted to make the various, and powerful technologies of education in the Museum apparent. This included drawing attention to the museum's principle device of representation; the assembly of artifacts and reconstructed objects into themed 'exhibitions' or theatrical 'tableau'. But also attending to the supporting technologies of display; vitrines, plinths, frames, text panels, documentary photographs, pamphlet guides, museum tours, children's workshops, accompanying audiovisual displays, film and lecture programs, etc.

Imagine an auditorium: with rows of chairs laid out waiting for the audience, the chairs address a lecture podium on top of which is a microphone, small light, a glass and carafe of water; the microphone is connected to an amplifier and large free-standing speakers. Twin slide projectors with long-lead controls are on a stand ready, pointing towards a large white screen. During the exhibition these artifacts, labeled with museological precision become prt of an exhibitionary tableau; museum objects worthy of attention. And yet during the Thursday lunchtime Public Lectures, they have the potential to function as a 'working' lecture theatre. Through exhibition, an object has been made out of the medium, for the delivery of education; the audience hover, uncertain of their or the lecture theatre's status.

A tableau of a life drawing room - a 19th century device for instruction- complete except for the posing model, begins a display sequence which culminates in a contemporary Art School seminar room; the body has been replaced by the book.

We recognize the exponential growth of the Museum, and the expanding role funding and policy makers expect of them. No longer contained by the physical site of the building, the museum's practices extend discursively beyond its walls. So to coincide with our exhibition and as integral part of our project we organized the following:

1. Curate the public Thursday Lecture Program at the Museum during the month of June (focused around the theme of education and its institutions, their histories and practices)

2. Choose the Object of that Month: a collaboration with the newspaper La Tribune des Arts, inviting readers to locate a 'highlight' object in the Museum collection.

3. Arrange the 'advertising' vitrine at Musee Rath in the Ave Corraterie for the duration of the project.

4. Link the Museum and the School's web-site via our page devoted to the project.

5. Organise a Children's Workshop in the Museum and School

6. Produce a Pocket Companion exhibition guide.

Through discussion -and a chance photograph near Rue de Chantepoulet our title for the project became Pour les Curieux. The idea of natural curiosity tempered by eduction perfectly fits the aspiration of both the museum and the school.