Curated Matter is a non-profit venture dedicated to the curation of exhibitions and events that catalyse social innovation. It was created by Christophe Bruchansky in February 2009 and is at the origin of art projects in London, Brussels and Hong Kong. It works in a collaborative fashion. Past projects were launched in collaboration with organisations such as the Westminster Reference Library, Philosophy for All, the Philosophy and Management association, Transition Finsbury Park and the small world project.

Mission

Curated matter could be described using a scientific analogy. The mission of curated matter is to:

Collide cultural artefacts in open contexts. Be the catalyser for cross-disciplinary reactions.

“Cultural artefacts” are man-made productions.  They can be artistic, scientific, philosophic or industrial. This definition avoids deliberating indefinitely on what the boundaries are between human activities; the aim being to remain open to any type of cultural materials.

In the collision metaphor, the role of the curator is to select “particles” and make them collide in an exhibition space. The operation can be compared to what happens in a particle accelerator like the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The aim is to analyze the effect of collisions and the potential apparition of unknown particles; the ultimate goal is to better understand reality through experiments. The benefits of such experiments are not only intellectual; they can occasionally lead to practical applications the could not be discovered otherwise.

The scope of the Curated Matter experiments could not be reduced to the category of the exhibited artefacts. Sought impacts can be philosophical, social, personal, artistic, scientific, industrial. They can be metaphysical or practical, introspective or inspiring. They are encouraged by cross-disciplinary platforms of exhibitions, events and discussions, all opened to  a maximum of people.  Special care is also given to the selection of the artefacts in order to achieve a wide spectrum of effects.

Vision

Be the initiator of exhibitions that bring remarkable value to people.

Examples of added values are:

• Recognition for individuals who take part in the exhibitions and events
• Bringing undiscovered artwork to the attention of the audience
• Uncovering new connections between cultural assets, enriching meaning and patrimony
• Providing inspiration and forums for social innovation

Values

• Non conformism: Open debates, critical thinking, non conformism is beneficial for everyone.
• Openness: Everything is to be shared in life and everyone should have a chance to take part in what he likes.
  • Exclusivity is justified only if it makes possible something that either could not have existed, or could not have been exposed otherwise.
  • The ambition is not to appeal to the masses but to make projects available to the widest possible audience.
  • The methodology will always be documented alongside the completed exhibitions and events.

All works exhibited will be selected on the basis of their artistic merit; when necessary the commitment and expertise of the artefact producers will be taken into account. The vocation of Curated Matter is to unwaveringly welcome the work of all rather than affirming the work of a small group of established individuals.

• Innovation: Innovation is experimental and not always successful. It can disrupt or destabilise. Most importantly though, it brings new discoveries and is a source of progress for people.
• Sustainability: Natural resources must be protected and used responsibly.
  • Use of recycled material and recycling of the waste
  • Ban on cultural artefacts involving excessive pollution or use of natural resources
• Life: Life is the most important thing. Ban on cultural artefacts not complying with fundamental life ethics:
  • As poverty is still a reality today, any activity or artefact that involves an unreasonable amount of resources without benefiting a large number of people.
  • Cultural artefacts made by killing, jeopardizing or torturing animals (including humans of course), even if the intention is to denounce those acts. Things such as leather or meat are commoditised in most societies, therefore their use will be sometimes tolerated. Using corpses of animals if the project didn’t condition their death, directly or indirectly, is not objected to. These ethics take precedence over any artistic licence.

These values are at the core of the Curated Matter’s activities. Partnerships with organizations not sharing them is sought only if the involved activities genuinely promote Curated Matter’s values, to the partners and the public.