Visitors to Hong Kong's museums are likely unaware of how much preparatory work goes into hosting an exhibition. It takes months or even years to acquire the artefacts, prepare them and organise how they will be displayed.
This is where the curators come in. It is their job to research, collect, document and skilfully display the relics. But a lot of their work is done behind the scenes, so many do not get to experience first-hand what curators do.
Creative curating
Museum of Art Curator Szeto Yuen-kit takes care of its Chinese paintings collection. A predominant format of Chinese painting is the handscroll, a continuous roll of paper or silk of varying length on which an image has been painted. He explained the delicate process of displaying the ancient artwork and that there was more to his job than just hanging up a painting.
"Chinese handscroll paintings remain rolled up when not being viewed. But we need to display the painting in its entirety to visitors, so we need to find the best way of doing that. But I also want to protect all the paintings," Mr Szeto explained.
With 29 years' experience, as well as a degree in Chinese and Western Art History under his belt, being a curator has become more than a job for him. Chinese paintings need to be carefully unfurled and held in place without causing any damage to the delicate paper or silk - and that got Mr Szeto thinking.
He was so passionate about protecting the art in his care that he and his team designed a special plastic hook that would stop the handscroll from rolling back as it was being unfurled. Fellow curators in overseas museums have praised his innovation.
"You can prevent the scroll from rolling without damaging it. We have made different sizes to fit different handscrolls."
For Mr Szeto, it is this kind of creativity that makes a good curator.
“Of course, you need the academic expertise and an interest in the relics, but creativity is also an important factor,” he noted.
A major part of a curator's job is to organise displays and exhibitions. Mr Szeto says this is not as simple as it sounds. He has to make an exhibition as appealing and interesting as possible, while helping visitors understand the history behind the relics.
Detailed eye
When museums curate thematic exhibitions, they usually need to borrow artefacts from other museums. Before these relics are handed over to the exhibition organisers, and before they are returned, a thorough inspection and handover procedure must take place. The inspection of an artefact's condition is the most important part of this process. Its purpose is to confirm and record its condition, so that the necessary packing and exhibition mounting can be used. This system is crucial for preventing any possible damage to the artefact.
Museum of History Curator Jeremy Hui is well versed in this process, having handled precious relics for 20 years.
"Ancient ceramics may have cracks because they were made and used many years ago, so we need to check them carefully. We take photos to record the condition of the artefacts to make sure they are returned in the same condition as when they arrived," she explained.
Ms Hui has organised many exhibitions during her time working at both the History Museum and Heritage Museum. She recalls travelling to Beijing to check on the artefacts being borrowed from the National Palace Museum before they were loaned to Hong Kong.
"It was so cold I had to keep jumping up and down just to keep warm, but I still needed to get on with the job of checking every detail of the artefacts carefully."
Ms Hui's passion for archaeology stems back to her student days. She applied for a summer job at the Conservation Office while studying Humanities at university, but was initially disappointed that she did not get to do any archaeological work.
Instead, she was sent to study temples in Kowloon. It was that experience and conversations with a temple worker that cemented the idea of working as a curator in her mind.
"I learn new things every time I prepare an exhibition and 20 years on, I am still learning. I love my job," she said.
Curator for a day
The Leisure & Cultural Services Department is giving people a behind the scenes peek at museum life through its "Be a Curator" programme which is part of Muse Fest HK 2015.
The city's leading curators from the Museum of Art, Museum of History, Heritage Museum and Science Museum are taking part in the programme where they reveal the secrets to designing inspiring exhibitions.
"Be a Curator" will be held every weekend from 2pm at the Museum of Art's exhibition gallery during Muse Fest which runs until July 12.
Click here for details.
