Gigi Colagrossi is from Rio, Brazil and is studying MA Culture, Criticism and Curation at Central Saint Martins (CSM).
Why did you choose to study MA Culture, Criticism and Curation and why CSM?
I was freelancing for 3 years, and I was really missing the creative freedom of experimentation and allowing myself to fail. I was also thinking about a career transition from art direction into curation. That is when I realised this was the perfect opportunity to engage in further education.
I did my BA at London College of Communication (LCC), so I was aware of UAL’s facilities and wanted to continue in-house. It was about this time that I also found out about the Culture, Criticism and Curation course at CSM. I had been to CSM before, so I was really looking forward to exploring the other facilities and, of course, the library - that was very needed for this course. It also made me very excited to hear that loads of upcoming curators that I admire had graduated from CCC so I decided to apply.
What’s the most interesting project you’ve worked on so far? What made it so interesting to work on?
It is quite hard to answer that, as we did so many great projects this year. I am particularly proud of the final exhibition I curated with my peers at the Lethaby Gallery, as the project went from conception to delivery very quickly, making me very proud of our realisation skills. We have collaborated with the "Archive of Destruction" from which we gathered a methodology and research to commission artists that worked with the idea of destruction in their practice. We gave them prompts for destruction and curated the exhibition and space based on how they materially responded to us. It was quite interesting to allow a project to exist with so much trust between parts and it was very gratifying to have the trinity of the arts in one project: amazing space, incredible collaborators and talented artists. It was a curator’s ideal scenario.
Have you completed any work placements / internships whilst being on the course? If so, can you tell me a little bit about your role?
I kept on freelancing, so I could maintain the flexibility of balancing work and also applying myself to the course. This year, I did set design for some fashion photoshoots and performances, but, most importantly, I co-organised and designed a Fashion exhibition at the Brazilian Embassy during London Fashion Week. "A Chain of Women" showcased new textile materials and technologies and brought light to the workforce of women working in garment production, who are usually unfairly paid and made invisible by the industry. It was very gratifying to do a project that meant so much to me, and that could fuel my ongoing research. It was also quite an exciting turning point to see my practice merge into the curatorial.
What important piece of advice would you give to students thinking of studying this course?
Keep yourself updated and read loads - and I mean LOADS! This course brought me the most amazing discussions I have ever been in, so it's important to engage with actualities so you can have a standpoint on them.
I would tell new students the same thing I promised myself at the start of the course: seize every moment. Enjoy the opportunities, use the facilities provided and nurture the friendships you will make along the way - these are probably the people you will end up collaborating with for life. It is not always that we are given the opportunity to experiment and I think it is really important to throw yourself in with your whole heart and soul.
What has been the highlight of your CSM experience so far?
Once again, it is so hard to pinpoint the highlight of my experience in CSM, as I am very grateful for my whole year. I am very glad about the connections I made, as I have found friends whom I know I will collaborate with in many projects to come. I am very grateful to all my lecturers, who always brought in great references and discussions. I also really enjoyed freely roaming around CSM and spending days - and sometimes nights - in the library doing research, developing films and truly nurturing my creativity.
What are your career aspirations? Where would you like to be in five years' time?
I know my curatorial field leans toward the audiovisual, and this is the area I am to pursue - even though I find joy in so many others. In 5 years, I would love to be an established film curator - independently or not. I would also like to be in a position that facilitates discussions around art, hosting seminars or events in which people can create discourse.
What is the most important thing you've learnt on the course so far?
Learning to collaborate. Not always we will have the project or co-workers of dreams, but learning to communicate your ideas, actively listening to others and knowing when to lead or step down are skills we bring to life. There are things we can all learn from books, but putting my practice into action is one of the most precious things I have experienced in this course.
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