#AskaCurator with Meher McArthur

What inspired you to become a curator?

I had majored in Japanese Studies at college because I was interested in the language and culture. After I graduated, I went to live and work in Japan and while I was there, I became fascinated with Japanese art, especially ceramics. I studied ceramics, flower arrangement, and calligraphy for almost two years with teachers there and came to understand how closely art is related to people's beliefs and how we can understand a culture by understanding its art. After I left Japan, I decided to study Japanese art history and completed a master's degree, after which I was lucky enough to be offered a job at a museum: Pacific Asia Museum (now USC Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, CA). I hadn't planned to become a curator, but as soon as I started the job, I knew that it fit perfectly my love not only of art but of research and of organizing material. For me, there is nothing more rewarding than being able to learn about a new aspect of art, create a story about it, and then share it with others.

What is the most memorable exhibition you have curated?

There have been many! One of my first major exhibitions focused on a Japanese folk painting tradition called Otsu-e from the town of Otsu near Kyoto. The paintings are whimsical but also full of important cultural, social, and philosophical information about Japanese popular culture. I was able to do some original research, meet living artists, and publish a catalog to accompany the exhibition, so it was completely satisfying. Another career highlight was curating the exhibition Folding Paper: The Infinite Possibilities of Origami for tour with IA&A. The subject of contemporary origami was fascinating and not well researched by art historians, so it was exciting to delve deep into it, explore various trends, styles, and innovators and help to establish it as an artistic genre worth studying.

How do you decide which artwork will go on display in an exhibition?

It's different with each exhibition, but, in a nutshell, once I have decided I want to focus on an area of art, I ask myself what is interesting and important about it and why other people should care about it too. I then select works that will fit together to create an interesting story that will hopefully cause museum visitors to become excited about the art too.

If you could work with any artist in the history of art, who would it be?

Otagaki Rengetsu was a Japanese Buddhist nun who created ceramics in the 19th century that she inscribed with her poetry in her beautiful calligraphy. She was a fascinating character in her time, very successful as an artist and published as a poet, and her work was an early example of mixed media art in Japan. I love her ceramics and her story. I curated a small exhibition of her ceramics, calligraphy, and poetry at Pacific Asia Museum years ago and I felt like I came to know her through that. I know she would have many interesting stories to tell about art and life.

What project(s) are you currently working on?

I am currently working on the exhibition Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper with IA&A. The exhibition spotlights the works of nine contemporary Japanese artists—both in Japan and overseas—who use traditional handmade washi (Japanese paper) as their medium for creating highly innovative works of art, from small conceptual sculptures to large screens and installations. Like with the contemporary origami exhibition, I think that museum visitors will be surprised and amazed at the diverse range of works that these artists are creating.