Roger Malbert
Born 1949 in Alberta, Canada. He studied philosophy, then illustration at the School of Art in Cambridge. Started at Kettle's Yard as a sessional assistant, then full-time Assistant Curator to Paul Clough (also interviewed). Mentions growing differences with Jim Ede and increasingly angry letters from him.
In his interview, he describes the day-to-day routine and his interest in curating exhibitions. Initially, Roger was determined to make a career in illustration, however his focus shifted to curating. At the time of interview he was Senior Curator for Touring Exhibitions at the Hayward Gallery in London.
By: Robert Wilkinson
Length: 53 mins
Media: On 2 tracks on 1 CD with summary
Interview id: MYKY39
Scope in the gallery for change and creative input, 1974-79
View: Transcript Theme: House as gallery
Since there was no stated policy or range of parameters for the collection, the way in which it could have grown without Jim would have been really tricky under any circumstances, I think, and the fact is it is now reverted to being this moment frozen in time, commemoration like the John Soanes Museum, it's kind of, nobody would think, you know, we must get some more antique sculptures into the John Soanes Museum, it would be mad, the place represents that life and vision and moment in time and I think Kettle's Yard now, people feel that's the correct way to treat that house and the collection. There's no point in adding to it, except for, you know, in fringe ways. The gallery is the place, I began to feel quite soon, and where I got my satisfaction in a way in the job after the initial bliss of being in this beautiful environment had worn off a bit. My creative satisfaction was acquired through the exhibition programme in the gallery where I felt there could be a little bit of even tension and kind of opposition to the overall harmonising aesthetic of the house.
Direct link to audio: .mp3
