Breaking boundaries in curatorial practice: an interview with alumna Charlotte Knaup ‘16

Charlotte Knaup, a 2016 graduate of AUC with a major in the humanities and a focus on the art track, has built a dynamic career across a variety of vibrant art scenes. After gaining international experience studying and working in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Hong Kong, and London, she is now based in Berlin where she is making her mark as a curator at the Hamburger Bahnhof Museum für Gegenwart, the National Gallery of Contemporary Art. Challenging conventional boundaries, Charlotte seeks to blur the lines between different creative genres, fostering a multifaceted conversation between art and its audience.

What steps did you take after graduating AUC?

After graduation, I had the opportunity to join the arts PR agency where I had interned during my time at AUC, which was my first step into the art world. The art world consists of plenty of institutions and spaces, from Biennales to galleries, and diving straight into the job market gave me firsthand insight into how this world actually works and where I might fit in.

“I don’t believe in a strict separation between
different genres of art”

Following that, I pursued a master's in Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London. The programme was small and highly interactive, similar to AUC in that sense, with a strong emphasis on active discussions. One of the highlights was the chance to travel, including a visit to the Venice Biennale. We also explored various art institutions in the Netherlands and Germany.

 “AUC’s interdisciplinary approach was incredible for working with and thinking about art. The programme taught me how to think critically, be outspoken, and move outside of strict categories” 

During my studies, I co-founded Please Queue Here with a friend, an independent, multidisciplinary curatorial platform aimed at supporting young and upcoming artists in London. This project solidified my ambition to become a curator. Alongside this, I worked as a gallery assistant at Whitechapel Gallery and interned with the 58th Venice Biennale, which deepened my understanding of curatorial work and the inner workings of an institution.

These experiences eventually led me to Berlin in 2019, where I applied for a position at the Hamburger Bahnhof and was offered a role as assistant curator. In Germany, it is common to begin one’s museum career with a two-year traineeship, which provides the opportunity to work with prominent institutions and collections.

Looking back at your trajectory at AUC, how did it shape your current position?

AUC’s interdisciplinary approach was incredible for working with and thinking about art. The programme taught me how to think critically, be outspoken, and move outside of strict categories. Beyond focusing on the art track, I also studied literature, film, and political science, which broadened my perspective and provided a solid foundation for my work today.

During my semester abroad, I studied at the University of Hong Kong at the Arts Faculty. Back at AUC, I was involved with the art committee, where I gained hands-on experience managing exhibitions. One of our initiatives was Scopophilia, an arts festival for young and beginning artists to present their work at various venues throughout Amsterdam.

These experiences translate to my position at the Hamburger Bahnhof, where I have the freedom to experiment with different curatorial formats. This summer, for example, I curated a DJ series in our museum garden. We invited DJs that have shaped the city to soften the hard division between the fine arts and Berlin’s renowned electronic music scene. The project celebrated the ways they were interlinked, as I don’t believe in a strict separation between different genres of art. It was a huge success – 61.000 people attended the events spread over twelve nights. Ultimately, it was a way to take down barriers.

Berlin Beats at Hamburger Bahnhof, Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart. © Kulturprojekte Berlin / Alex Rentsch

The next exhibition that is opening coming February is a solo show by the South Korean artist Ayoung Kim. Her works engage with world building and speculative feminism. She creates expansive fictional universes and tells stories that take place across different realities that constantly collide with each other, making use of Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, and even video game simulations. It is not only the visitors’ presence in Kim’s worlds that is negotiated, but also the topology of the exhibition itself. The virtual realm is something that has been part of my research for a long time. Analysing creative means of expression, reflecting on both the present and the future – that was the red thread of my studies at AUC.

 “The art world can be quite intimidating. But know that your voices in those spaces are encouraged and very much needed”

What advice or tips do you have for current students and AUC alumni who are interested in working in the arts?

For anyone interested in the art world, my advice is to make the time to see as much art as you can. Go to every exhibition, attend talks, and engage with the work on display. It is essential to develop a relationship with art by speaking about it, seeing it, and by continuously engaging your curiosity. When you’re young and just starting out, the art world can be quite intimidating. But know that your voices in those spaces are encouraged and very much needed! These spaces are meant for you, and people in the field – artists, curators, museum professionals – are eager to connect. Use that to explore and start your network. AUC students are also always welcome to apply for internships at the Hamburger Bahnhof, and I encourage you to reach out. Ultimately, finding and building relationships with peers – whether students or artists – is crucial, because these connections will become part of the community that you’re growing into this world with.