Academy Quote by Michael Craig-Martin
“The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition is very difficult to hang because it is so large and the quality is very varied. There are 1,200 works, an almost impossible number, some are interesting and some are not.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Artforum, 2018
The exhibition’s massive scale and varied quality make curating challenging, with many works ranging from compelling to mediocre.
In simple terms: Large, diverse shows are hard to organize and evaluate.
Key Takeaway
Focus on curatorial vision to navigate scale and variety.
Themes
curation
scale
quality
artistic diversity
challenge
Mood
analytical
pragmatic
Type
critical
educational
When to use this quote
- gallery management
- art education
- public programming
Key Concepts
exhibition planning
art criticism
selection process
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide which works to feature?
- What criteria ensure coherence in large shows?
A Different Perspective
Balancing inclusivity with quality can dilute overall impact.
![“I planned the exhibition so that it becomes a story where the viewer travels through these islands [of ideas]. Whether the contents of each chapter came first or the artist came first in making the decision was different in each case.” quote by Yasumasa Morimura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e57/yasumasa-morimura-27200_art_i-planned-the-exhibition-so-that-it-beco_264843.jpg)
![“[I] don't want people to see it [paintings] as a specific intention on my part. If somebody has that interest in these objects, of course they can see that, but from my own point of view, I'd rather stay as neutral as possible.” quote by Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2c8/michael-craig-martin-9157_artist_i-don-t-want-people-to-see-it-paintings_421873.jpg)
