Beyond the White Cube: Decolonial Curatorial Practices for Global South Indigenous Narratives

Abstract

This Major Research Paper (MRP) titled "Beyond the White Cube: Decolonial Curatorial Practices for Global South Indigenous Narratives" explores the intersection of curatorial practices and the politics of memory within the context of Global South Indigenous art. The study critically examines the limitations of the "white cube" exhibition model, which has historically marginalized non-Western art forms and perpetuated cultural amnesia. By analyzing the works of artists Cecilia Vicuna and Cai Guo-Qiang, the research demonstrates how these artists use indigenous cultural practices—such as the Andean quipu and Chinese gunpowder art—to challenge and transcend Western-dominated exhibition models. The paper argues for the development of decolonial curatorial practices that amplify marginalized voices and reimagine the role of exhibitions in preserving and transmitting cultural memory. Through an in-depth analysis of specific case studies, this research contributes to the ongoing discourse on decolonizing art institutions and offers new perspectives on curating Global South Indigenous art within a globalized and postcolonial context.