MeLa RF04 Bibliography: History of Temporary Exhibitons

This bibliography is part of the process of research and knowledge sharing that RCA, London, and MACBA, Barcelona, have undertaken within the context of the Research Field 04 of the MeLa Project, which investigates the documenting, archiving and historising of contemporary art exhibitions. The aim of this process is to reflect on current practices for the documenting and archiving of exhibitions and the ways these inflect upon the writing of exhibition histories. This is not just so as to identify and replicate “best practices” for exhibition archives, but rather, to think beyond these in order to propose new ones, taking on board the challenges brought on by a newly globalised artworld and an increasingly digitalised exhibition practice.

This work-in-progress bibliography, intended as a selection of the most relevant references, will continue to be expanded during the duration of the MeLa Project. In putting it together, RCA and MACBA expect to produce a succint account of how the history of temporary exhibitions has evolved along the last thirty years, encompassing not only the most significant texts and/or exhibitions in the Western countries, but also other in areas of the world.