ABSTRACT
In Chapter 8, curator Sarah Cook discusses two curated exhibitions produced for Somerset House in London between 2019 and 2020. 24/7 and Sleep Mode represent a ‘sustainable’ model of curating and exhibition-making in the context of the supply chains of art and digital experiences. In the process, she defines ‘curatorial confidence’ as an act that balances the ability to support artists in creating new work using digital technologies, alongside the role of positioning a critical commentary on digital technology for audiences. In the case of 24/7, the exhibition makes visitors aware of their relationship and productivity within digital capitalism, while Sleep Mode engendered new behaviours of cultural consumption and accessibility. Cook proceeds to discuss how the pandemic subsequently forced rethinking of our experience of technology, social relations, and our relationship to place. Together these two projects represent a form of curatorial activism aimed at making people more mindful about their individual and collective engagement with technology. Importantly, Cook points out that curating, whether online or offline, is a balancing act that must carefully consider the needs of the artwork/exhibition alongside those of the visitor/audience.
