Between 1990 and 1994, artist and administrator, Nicholas Tsoutas was Director of Brisbane's Institute of Modern Art where he ran a varied exhibition, film, performance and lecture program. He recently took up the position of Director at Artspace, Sydney.
MARGRIET BONNINNicholas, you've now finished four years as Director of the Institute of Modern Art (IMA) in Brisbane and your Directorship has been energetic and controversial. You have consistently adopted positions of opposition, and this has upset quite a few people (including artists) in Queensland. How would you describe your approach as a visual arts administrator?
NICHOLAS TSOUTASI think everything is subject to challenge. I've always erred personally in favour of the front line: operating or positioning myself where change can be constructive. I'm about subjecting organisations to a critique to see how differences can emerge and, in the process, how a lot of people can engage.
MARGRIET BONNINThis sort of approach has sometimes resulted in accusations of simplistic pluralism.
NICHOLAS TSOUTASI don't believe in pluralism. Part of the rush of the 1980s was determined through the index of pluralism. In the 'anything goes' principle, everything goes. When everything is interchangeable, nothing has meaning. When everything is neutral we have huge problems. I think it's a bit of jingoism that capitalism, through the notion of individualism, has been happy to perpetuate. I think that curators, directors, and writers have got to retest the foundations of the discourses of the '80s and the curatorial practices of the '80s. It doesn't take much to do cutesy-pie interesting exhibitions. It takes a bit more to actually ask the difficult questions. It's about knowing when to stand your ground. By opposition... The rest of this article is available to subscribers of Eyeline
Nicholas Tsoutas in front of Gordon Bennett's installation, Psycho(d)rama, 1990. Institute of Modern Art, Brisbane. Photo: John O'Brien.
