THE LARGE-SCALE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION: CHINA AND THE U.S.
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Authors
Cutler, Nathan
Issue Date
1984
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
In museums today, especially art museums, the production and distribution of large-scale international exhibitions has raised a number of provocative questions concerning the mission of the museum. Is its primary responsibility to the collection of objects entrusted to it or towards the growing demand of a museum audience for large temporary exhibitions with exceptional pieces? How does a museum director foresee when the limitations of large, costly exhibitions undermine the presentation of his museum's permanent collections? The answer to such questions can only be arrived at by a careful analysis of what has become popularly known as the "blockbuster" exhibition. In the following pages the history, technical aspects - such as financing, installation, and promotion - and the spirit of international cooperation that has fostered such exhibitions, will be considered in detail. This project is based on original research, including interviews with the staff of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, the host institution for this exhibition, and close consultation with Curator-in-Charge Clarence Shangraw.