Museum work is not as interesting as I think.
I am now working in a small art museum as a summer intern, doing works such as object research, files cataloguing, and a variety of things. Though my title is “curatorial internship,” I did not take part in the actual thinking process.
There was an all-staff meeting on the first day I started my work. Everyone in the art museum gathered together in the storage, learning how to handle art works in the storage. The collection manager showed us everything, from washing hands at the entrance to holding art works in the right way. After the meeting, I know I won’t be a “collection manager” in the future—I have no patience dealing with these numerous details in handling the actual art works. Looking at them is enough for me.
I know that many jobs are about doing very trivial works, but I want challenge, I want to see new things, I want to use my brain, I want to create something. But before all these, I still have lots to learn. I need to know more about the art world, how an art museum runs, how an actual exhibition comes to life from a “bling.”
I love beautiful and interesting things. That’s why I love art, and that’s why I choose art history as my major and want to work in the art world in the future (and now). I am not very clear about my future, but at least I know what I like.
Female Dancer
Metropolitan Museum of Art
