Professor Tom Trevor
Associate Professor of Contemporary Art and Curation
4314
01392 724314
Overview
Tom Trevor is Programme Director of MA Curation: Contemporary Art and Cultural Management within Art History and Visual Culture, in the Department of Languages, Cultures and Visual Studies.
He is Principal Investigator on the AHRC-funded Creative Peninsula knowledge exchange project on a theme of place in Devon and Cornwall, and convenor/curator of the Atlantica project. He was formerly Academic Lead for the University's Creative Arc partnership with Exeter City Council and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (2020-23).
Joining the University of Exeter in January 2020, Trevor has thirty years’ experience as a curator and writer on contemporary art, including fourteen as Director of leading UK arts institutions. During this time he has curated more than 100 exhibitions, placing a particular emphasis upon experimental emerging practice and context-led projects. Since 2013, after eight years as Director of Arnolfini, in Bristol, he has focused on curating international biennials and large-scale visual arts projects, working in India, Korea, Denmark, Japan, UAE and the UK. Over the course of his career, he has produced or contributed texts to over 40 publications, and lectured widely.
Prior to joining the University, Trevor was Artistic Director of The Atlantic Project in Plymouth, UK (2016-19), Guest Curator at the Whitechapel Gallery, London (2015-16), Artistic Director of the 4th Dojima River Biennale in Osaka, Japan (2014-15), curatorial consultant to the 1st ARoS Triennale in Aarhus, Denmark (2014-15), Guest Curator at the Devi Art Foundation in Delhi, India (2013-14), Director of Arnolfini in Bristol, UK (2005-13), Associate Curator of the Art Fund International collection (2007-12), and Director of Spacex in Exeter, UK (1999-2005).
Office: Queen's 205
Research
The focus of Trevor’s research is on shifting notions of ‘the contemporary’ in relation to biopolitics, decolonisation, climate emergency and the digital network society, as manifested through emerging contemporary art practices.
His recent essay, A New Atlantic (Bloomsbury, 2023) takes the processional performance from Cook’s New Clothes, by Khadija von Zinnenburg Carroll, as a basis to explore the contemporary ramifications of the 18th century Polynesian star navigator, Tupaia’s mapping of the Pacific. Other recent texts include: The Space of Flows in the 2018 Bruges Triennale catalogue, Liquid City, exploring the metaphor of ‘liquidity’ in relation to today’s image-saturated information society; Port City-Cape Town, published in Africa Modern on the occasion of the opening of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, in 2017, which unpacks the relationship between art institutions, colonialism and maritime trade; and Three Ecologies, for the Hatje Cantz monograph on Lois Weinberger (a text which was also abridged for the documenta 14: Daybook in 2017), focusing on the artist’s use of ‘ruderal’ plants (or ‘weeds’) and the inter-related ecologies of ‘mind, nature and society’ as conceptualised by Felix Guattari.
Previously, as Artistic Director of The Atlantic Project, Trevor devised a large-scale context-led project across the city of Plymouth, in the autumn of 2018, featuring site-specific installations by 20 artists from 12 countries, including Kiluanji Kia Henda, Ryoji Ikeda, Hito Steyerl and SUPERFLEX amongst others. In 2015, as Artistic Director of the 4th Dojima River Biennale in Osaka, he was the first British curator to lead a Japanese biennial, entitled Take Me To The River, with artists from 8 countries showing alongside leading practitioners from Japan. In the same year he curated Music for Museums at the Whitechapel Gallery; a four-month programme of experimental music performances, film screenings and sound interventions throughout the institution. In 2014-15, as curatorial consultant to ARoS Kunstmuseum in the lead-up to Aarhus 2017, European Capital of Culture, he initiated and devised the 1st ARoS Triennale, on a theme of THE GARDEN. He also worked on a major video commission by John Akomfrah, Vertigo Sea, for the 56th Venice Biennale. In 2013, as Guest Curator at the Devi Art Foundation in Delhi, he co-curated the exhibition, Black Sun, with Shezad Dawood, including leading artists from the South Asian diaspora.
As a curator, Trevor has been responsible for numerous early career shows of British artists, as well as first UK exhibitions of renowned international figures; e.g. Cosima von Bonin, Tania Bruguera, Meschac Gaba, Shilpa Gupta, Liu Chuang, Doris Salcedo, Lois Weinberger and Haegue Yang. He has curated many solo and group shows, including international touring exhibitions with institutions such as Kunstinstituut Melly (Rotterdam), Museum Ludwig (Köln), MAMCO (Geneva), Haus der Kunst (Munich) and Wiels (Brussels), and also commissioned projects by leading 20th century figures such as Louise Bourgeois, William Kentridge and Yoko Ono. From 2007-12, as Associate Curator of the Art Fund International he led on building a new £1million collection of contemporary art from Africa, Asia and the Middle East, making 44 acquisitions, with significant works by Ai Weiwei, Cao Fei, Emily Jacir, Amar Kanwar, Walid Raad and Akram Zaatari, amongst others, and a major commission by Do Ho Suh. He also has substantial experience of multi-art form programming, including performance art, experimental music, dance, film, literature and online projects, as well as devising year-round public programmes of talks and symposia, and long-term learning and participation projects.
Supervision
Trevor welcomes research proposals on a range of topics relating to contemporary art and curation, with a particular focus on shifting notions of 'the contemporary' in relation to biopolitics, decolonisation, climate emergency and the digital network society.
Research students
Miao Wang, 'The Fluid Space: the dilemma of constructing the subjective self in the Chinese social media environment-A study with the approach of Contemporary Art Practice'
Mie Al-Missned, 'Rites Without Passage: Ritual Performativity in Transnational Networks of Contemporary Art'
Publications
Copyright Notice: Any articles made available for download are for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the copyright holder.
| 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2004 | 2002 | 2000 |
2023
- Trevor T. (2023) The Assisted Painting Series, Bettina Semmer.
2022
- Trevor T. (2022) A New Atlantic: Wayfinding Beyond the Totalizing Claims and Epistemic Violence of Eurocentric Modernity, Tupaia, Captain Cook and the Voyage of the Endeavour A Material History, Bloomsbury Visual Arts.
2020
- Trevor T. (2020) Cook's New Clothes, IAAC Exhibition Reviews Annual 2019-2020, pages 35-40. [PDF]
2018
- Trevor T. (2018) The Atlantic Project: After The Future.
- Trevor T. (2018) The Atlantic Project: After The Future, The Arts Institute, University of Plymouth.
- Trevor T. (2018) The Space of Flows, 2018 Bruges Triennial: Liquid City, Stichting Kunstboek.
2017
- Trevor T. (2017) ARoS Triennial: The Garden.
- Trevor T. (2017) Cape Town: port city, Africa Modern Creating Contemporary Art of a Continent, KT Wong Foundation.
- Trevor T. (2017) Lois Weinberger, Documenta 14: Daybook, Prestel Publishing.
2016
- Trevor T. (2016) The Pre-History of Zero, International Awards for Art Criticism: Reviews Annual 2015-2016, International Awards for Art Criticism.
2015
- Trevor T. (2015) Music for Museums.
- Trevor T. (2015) Take Me To The River - currents of the contemporary, Dojima River Forum.
- Trevor T. (2015) The Origin of Futures, In-Residence Magazine (Art House Index Issue), Limited Editions vzw.
- Trevor T. (2015) Dojima River Biennale 2015: Take Me To The River.
2013
- Trevor T, Dawood S. (2013) Black Sun: Alchemy, Diaspora and Heterotopia.
- Trevor T. (2013) Everything and Nothing - the Pre-History of Zero, Joelle Tuerlinckx: WOR(L)(D)(K) IN PROGRESS?, Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther Koenig.
- Trevor T. (2013) Blind Spot - On the Metaphor of the Sun: Light, Language and Melancholia, Black Sun: Alchemy, Diaspora and Heterotopia, Ridinghouse.
- Trevor T. (2013) Three Ecologies, Lois Weinberger, Hatje Cantz.
2012
- Trevor T, Enwezor O, Snauwaert D, Wieder A, Lorz J, Trevor T. (2012) Joelle Tuerlinckx, Wor(l)(d)(k) in Progress?.
2011
- Cummings N, Trevor T. (2011) Self Portrait Arnolfini, Arnolfini.
- Trevor T. (2011) The Green Man, Lois Weinberger (Musee d'Art Moderne de Saint-Etienne Metropole), Silvana Editoriale.
- Trevor T. (2011) Me, Myself and I, Jovis Verlag.
- Trevor T. (2011) Free Time, Cosima von Bonin - 1, 2, 3, 4 diese Publikationn erscheint anlässlich der Ausstellungsreihe 'Cosima von Bonin - the Lazy Susan Series - a rotating exhibition 2010-2012' ; mit folgenden Ausstellungsstationen: Cosima von Bonin's far niente for Witte de With's sloth section, Loop # 01 of the Lazy Susan Series, a rotating exhibition 2010-2012, 10. october 2010-9. january 2011, Witte de with Center of Contemporary Art, Rotterdam ; Cosima von Bonin's bone idle for Arnolfin's sloth section, Loop # 02 of the Lazy Susan Series, a rotating exhibition 2010-2012, 19. february 2011-25. april 2011, Arnolfini, Bristol ; Cosima von Bonin's zermatt! Zermatt! Z ... ermattet! For Mamco's sloth section, Loop # 03 of the Lazy Susan Series, a rotating exhibition 2010-2012, 8. june 2011-18. september 2011, Mamco, Genf ; Cosima von Bonin's cut! Cut! Cut! For Museum Ludwig's sloth section, Loop # 04 of the Lazy Susan Series, a rotating exhibition 2010-2012, 5. november 2011-13. may 2012, Museum Ludwig, Köln, DuMont Buchverlag.
2010
- Trevor T, Haq N, Cox G. (2010) Concept Store #3 : Art, Activism and Recuperation.
2009
- Trevor T, Marriott J, Trowell J, Gretton D, Minio-Paluello M, Ma'anit A, Amunwa B, Evans M, Smith K. (2009) C Words: Carbon Climate Capital Culture, Arnolfini.
- Cox G, Haq N, Trevor T. (2009) Concept Store #2: Possible, Probable and Preferable Futures.
2008
- Trevor T. (2008) SOMNAMBULIN: A Short Journey Through Middle England, Ausstellung u.d.T.: Sigalit Landau : the Dining Hall, Hatje Cantz Pub.
- Trevor T, Haq N, Cox G. (2008) Concept Store #1: Art, Consumerism and the Experience Economy, Arnolfini.
2007
- Trevor T. (2007) Lois & Franziska Weinberger: Home Voodoo, Arnolfini.
- Trevor T. (2007) Port City: On Mobility and Exchange, Arnolfini.
2006
- Trevor T, Blazwick I. (2006) Albert Oehlen: I Will Always Champion Good Painting / I Will Always Champion Bad Painting, Albert Oehlen: I Will Always Champion Good Painting / I Will Always Champion Bad Painting, Whitechapel Gallery / Arnolfini.
2004
- Trevor T, Yokomizo S, Doherty C. (2004) Shizuka Yokomizo distance, Spacex.
2002
- LeWitt S. (2002) Sol LeWitt: Chicago, Spacex / Morning Star.
2000
- Trevor T, Parker J, Shearman Z. (2000) Jayne Parker Filmworks 79-00, Spacex.
External impact and engagement
Trevor has twenty-five years’ experience as a contemporary art curator, including fourteen as Director of leading UK arts institutions, during which time he has curated more than 100 exhibitions, working in partnership with museums and galleries around the world. Since 2013, after eight years as Director of Arnolfini, the centre for contemporary arts in Bristol, he has focused on curating international biennials and large-scale visual arts projects, working in India, Korea, Denmark, Japan, UAE and the UK.
Trevor has twice been shortlisted for the International Awards for Art Criticism, and was one of four winners of the 'IAAC 6' prize announced in Shanghai in September 2019.
Professional memberships (elected):
- International Curators of Contemporary Art Association (IKT), 2005 -
- International Arts Critics Association (AICA), 2009 -
- International Biennial Association (IBA), 2012 -
Teaching
Programme Director, MA Curation: Contemporary Art and Cultural Management
AHVC BA Module Convenor: AHV2016 Contemporary art and Curation
Modules taught
- AHV1005 - Inside the Museum
- AHV1006 - Visual Media
- AHV2007 - Contemporary Visual Practices
- AHV2016 - Contemporary Art and Curation
- AHV3000 - Art History and Visual Culture Dissertation
- AHVM001 - Institutions and Agencies: the Business of Contemporary Art
- AHVM002 - Arts of the Contemporary World
- AHVM003 - Art Writing
- AHVM004 - Internship
- AHVM005 - Dissertation
- AHVM006 - Curatorial Project
Biography
Tom Trevor is a curator and writer on contemporary art. He is Associate Professor of Contemporary Art and Curation at the University of Exeter, where he leads the MA Curation: Contemporary Art and Cultural Management programme. Previously he was Artistic Director of The Atlantic Project in Plymouth, UK (2016-19), Guest Curator at the Whitechapel Gallery, London (2015-16), Artistic Director of the 4th Dojima River Biennale in Osaka, Japan (2014-15), curatorial consultant to the 1st ARoS Triennale in Aarhus, Denmark (2014-15), Guest Curator at the Devi Art Foundation in Delhi, India (2013-14), Director of Arnolfini in Bristol, UK (2005-13), Associate Curator of the Art Fund International collection, UK (2007-12), and Director of Spacex in Exeter, UK (1999-2005).
Over the past thirty years he has curated more than 100 exhibitions, placing an emphasis upon experimental emerging practice, particularly interdisciplinary and context-led projects, working in partnership with museums and galleries around the world. During this time he has been responsible for numerous early career shows, as well as first UK presentations by artists such as Maria Thereza Alves, Cosima von Bonin, Matti Braun, Tania Bruguera, Meschac Gaba, Shilpa Gupta, Doris Salcedo, Joelle Tuerlinckx, Lois Weinberger and Haegue Yang, amongst others.
His recent curated projects include The Atlantic Project: After The Future (2018), a large-scale context-led project which took place in unusual locations across the city of Plymouth, featuring site-specific installations by 20 artists from 12 countries, including Hito Steyerl, Ryoji Ikeda and SUPERFLEX. In 2015, as Artistic Director of the 4th Dojima River Biennale in Osaka, he was the first British curator to lead a Japanese biennial, entitled Take Me To The River, with artists from 8 countries showing alongside leading practitioners from Japan. In the same year, as Guest Curator at the Whitechapel Gallery, he curated Music for Museums, a four-month programme of experimental music performances, film screenings and sound interventions throughout the institution. In 2014-15, as curatorial consultant to ARoS Kunstmuseum in the lead-up to Aarhus 2017, European Capital of Culture, he initiated and devised the 1st ARoS Triennale, on a theme of THE GARDEN. He also worked on a major video commission by John Akomfrah, Vertigo Sea, for the 56th Venice Biennale. In 2013, as Guest Curator at the Devi Art Foundation in Delhi, he co-curated the exhibition, Black Sun, with Shezad Dawood, including leading artists from the South Asian diaspora.
Over the past 20 years Trevor has curated numerous group shows and multi-site projects; e.g. The Visible & the Invisible (1996), the Free Association Series (1999-2000), the Home Series (2000-01), Generator (2002), Patterns (2002), Homeland (2004), Hortus: Botany & Empire (2004), Port City (2007), Far West (2008), Supertoys (2008), the Artist/Activist Series (2009-10), Museum Show pt I & II (2011), Version Control (2013), etc.
As Associate Curator of the Art Fund International (2007-12), Trevor led on building a major new £1million (GBP) collection of contemporary art from Africa, Asia and the Middle East, making 44 acquisitions, including works by Ai Weiwei, Yto Barrada, Cao Fei, Meschac Gaba, Shilpa Gupta, Emily Jacir, Amar Kanwar, Imran Qureshi, Walid Raad, Haegue Yang and Akram Zaatari, amongst others, and a major commission by Do Ho Suh.
As a writer, Trevor has authored, produced, or contributed to, over 40 publications, including artists monographs with publishers such as Walther Konig, Hatje Cantz, Jovis and Dumont. His most recent published texts include A New Atlantic in Tupaia, Captain Cook and the Voyage of the Endeavour (Bloomsbury 2023), an essay in the Bruges Triennale 2018 catalogue (The Space of Flows), the launch publication of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town in September 2017 (Port City: Cape Town in Africa Modern) and a chapter for the documenta 14 Daybook. He has twice been shortlisted for the International Awards for Art Criticism (2015 & 2019) and was one of four winners announced at the 2019 ‘IAAC 6’ annual ceremony in Shanghai.
Trevor is an elected member of AICA (International Art Critics Association), IBA (International Biennial Association) and IKT (International Curators Association). He was previously a member of Plus Tate (chairing the digital working group), the national steering group of the Contemporary Visual Arts Network, and was founding Chair of Visual Arts South West, in the UK. He studied at the Ruskin, University of Oxford, and Goldsmiths’ College, University of London. He was conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Letters (Hon DLitt) at the University of Exeter in 2014, where he was an Honorary Research Fellow from 2014-20.