A Zambian Curator’s Experience was not merely a recollection of events, but a celebration of achievement and the opening of a new chapter in the documentation of Zambian art. The conversation explored Ng’onga Nalupya’s journey at the University of Bergen, where she pursued an MA in curatorial practice, and how that experience expanded her understanding of the field, building on what she already knew while reshaping how she now approaches curatorial work within the Zambian context.
Beyond Ng’onga’s experience, we also gained valuable insight from Professor Anne Szefer Karlsen, who leads the curatorial program at the University of Bergen. She shared reflections on what it has been like to run the program and offered perspective on how curatorial education can shape the way emerging practitioners engage with exhibitions, archives, and artistic narratives.
It was an insightful and reflective dialogue. We discussed the preservation, archiving, and recollection of Zambian art exhibitions, and the importance of creating lasting records of what has been shown, experienced, and shared. In a context where much of the artistic past risks fading from public memory, such documentation becomes essential to sustaining a living cultural history.
The discussion also highlighted the growing importance of curatorial practice in shaping artistic discourse and supporting the development of the local art ecosystem. Looking ahead, we reflected on future possibilities for strengthening documentation, expanding curatorial engagement, and building structures that ensure Zambian art continues to be remembered, studied, and celebrated.
