Spanish director to head modern art museum :: Korea.net : The official website of the Republic of Korea
Bartomeu Mari Ribas (left) poses next to Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Jongdeok after his appointment as the new director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, on Dec. 14 in Seoul.
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) has appointed a non-Korean as its new director for the first time in its history.
Bartomeu Mari Ribas, the Spain-born former president of the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art (CIMAM), has been tapped to lead the MMCA and he started his three-year term in earnest on Dec. 14.
The new director served as artistic director at the Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art in the Netherlands, and has also led the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art in Spain.
During a press conference after his appointment, Director Mari outlined his approaches to leading the museum throughout this given three-year term. He plans to enhance the museum’s capabilities on the global scene and have it serve as a venue to educate museum-goers about a variety of modern art.
“I will make the MMCA into one of the world’s leading museums of contemporary art. My goal is that the museum will play a role in getting people involved in activities at the museum, and also a role as a producer of such activities,” he said at the press conference.
“I worked as an exhibit organizer, educator and also as a curator over my 30-year career, and for 25 years of that career I’ve gone through a variety of experiences, leading numerous art organizations. As a director and curator here, now, I will help the museum to retain its identity as an art museum and, also, to build ties with other countries, regions and organizations, globally,” he stated.
The director then mapped a blueprint for the way in which he would like to lead the museum. “As the Gwangju Biennale has set a good model in making an institutional framework between artists and society, a first among Asian countries, I believe that Korea is the most suitable nation in which to set up a whole new model. Instead of taking a model from outside, I will make the museum become a new form of channel in itself that exists in the public sphere.”
He also voiced another goal: to improve his Korean skills. “Within a year, I will learn the Korean language to a point where I can somewhat communicate with Korean people by myself, even if I’m not perfectly fluent.”
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
jiae5853@korea.kr
Bartomeu Mari Ribas (left), appointed as new director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, shakes hands with Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Jongdeok upon receiving his certificate of appointment.
Bartomeu Mari Ribas, the new director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, holds a press conference on Dec. 14 in Seoul.
