The curious curator and the meaning behind it
How I built the courage to start my substack now and why you should subscribe
The curious curator
Have you heard of the saying “curiosity kills the cat?”, well I am that cat in this context. I am also aware that “curious” has another meaning which can be interpreted as weird or abnormal. At 32, having lived in Turkey, Switzerland and now London, UK, and been exposed to different cultural norms, values and expectations, I often felt out of place. However, this feeling of out of placeness has also been my strength in the projects I have worked on in multiple capacities. As a Turkish woman living in the diaspora for over 15 years in London, I face day-to-day conflicts where I battle my identity, where I come from and where I belong.
A bit about me…
My name is Huma, and I was born in London but lived in Istanbul, Turkey, until age 14. I am an only child but have many cousins (including their kids) from my mum’s side. Until now, I have managed a private family collection and started my art platform Open Space fresh out of my MA in Curating Contemporary Art at the Royal College of Art. I have mentored artists and curated more than 30 events and exhibitions while working with chefs, artists, designers, academicians and writers. I am passionate about travelling, food and holistic approaches such as yoga, well-being and self-care. I strive for new collaborations and discover different cultures.
Why am I doing this now?
I have always been interested in the intersection of art and food and how food can catalyse issues around climate change, the cost of living crisis, health and politics. Over the last eight years, I have collaborated extensively on various participatory experiences and fostered broader dialogue with multi-disciplinary practitioners. Through partnered projects such as Pluto’s Kitchen, Tender Touches, and I Have Eaten It, I have been interested in creating socially engaged, immersive, thought-provoking, discussion-led projects and exhibitions. Each week I will try to cover one article about food politics and anthropology for free subscribers with additional expert knowledge or interviews as a paid subscription.
