State Hermitage Museum
Zhang Huan: In the Ashes of History
Context
The first major solo exhibition by a contemporary Chinese artist at the State Hermitage Museum, in the Nicholas Hall of the Winter Palace. It brought together one of the world's leading museums and the internationally renowned artist Zhang Huan. Curated for the museum by Dmitry Ozerkov and Anastasia Veyalko, with Wu Hung as invited co-curator, and supported by Pearl Lam Galleries, where I was director for Russia.
Challenge
Deliver a landmark international exhibition inside a highly complex museum environment while aligning the artist's vision with institutional requirements, technical production and multiple international stakeholders - and hold it together through a pandemic that moved the opening by four months.
My role
Ran the project from the gallery side end to end: programming budget, resource allocation, artist and vendor contracts, technical teams, art handling, international logistics, installation, institutional coordination, opening events and VIP hospitality.
Outcome
Delivered at museum scale. The show strengthened the relationship between the State Hermitage and Zhang Huan Studio, and introduced contemporary Chinese art to a significant new audience.
Results
- Shortlisted for Exhibition of the Year ↗ The Art Newspaper Russia Award, IX ceremony, March 2021
- 170+ media features print, television, radio and digital
- Nicholas Hall, Winter Palace ↗ part of the Hermitage 20/21 project
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