1.In your opinion, what is the role of a museum?
A museum brings work to the public, which allows a spread of cultural and artistic history. Without being publicly available, the diversity of the viewing audience is greatly stunted. Providing work for the public to view lets a new generation experience and be inspired by the past in a way that is more tangible than otherwise accessible.
2.What are your favorite museums in the world?
I grew up in Chicago and spend many days at the Art Institute of Chicago. It remains my favorite, partially based on the memories of growing up there, but it also contains a massive collection of work detailing many art movements. When viewing work, I typically prefer contemporary, but being able to move between historical work, and current work and witness the transitions between is always moving.
3.How important are social networks in your business, which do you prefer and why?
I find them important, especially since I didn’t come up through an academic art background. Social media allows you to find an incredibly diverse range of work, and lets the used curate their preferences much more acutely than every before. I probably prefer Instagram since it’s just visual, and lets the work speak for itself.
4.To create greater engagement among museum, artists, and professionals, do you have any advice for cultural projects such as #Museumweek?
I think it’s important to keep things as accessible as possible. Being able to connect the viewer with the artists and their own interpretations in a way that is genuine creates an experience that feels much more meaningful.
Interview by Fabio Pariante, journalist
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Kyle Thompson on social networks: Instagram – Facebook
Kyle Thompson (Chicago, 1992) is a professional photographer based in Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon. Kyle started his business at the age of 19 and his job is mainly based on taking self-portraits with a timer and moving slowly in front of the camera. His works have a surrealist profile that tells of abandoned places to which he gives a new identity.
Thompson is represented by the aA29 Project Room in Italy and the Commercial Archives managed by Agence Vu in France. Recently the work “Moth and Flame” has become part of the public collection of modern and contemporary art of the Royal Palace of Caserta.