Aiden Nel

Curator

Talent

Cape Town, City of Cape TownMember since 16 February 2024

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About

I am a dedicated and knowledgeable museum professional with a strong academic background in Classical History and curatorship. With nearly eight years of academic experience, I have developed extensive expertise in researching, documenting, and presenting historical content. Additionally, my practical experience includes museum exhibition design and content creation. I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to your esteemed institution.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Curatorship Specialisation from the University of Cape Town, where I graduated with distinction. Additionally, I earned a Master of Arts in Classics from Rhodes University, where I conducted in-depth research on Greek mythological figures and explored the cultural significance of Greek vases.

I am passionate about history, curatorial practices, and the care and maintenance of artefacts. I am dedicated to creating engaging and educational experiences in museums.

Experience

At the Iziko South African Museum, I had the privilege of working as a Curator and Researcher. In this role, I researched and designed two significant exhibitions: "Hide and Seek: Objects in Purgatory" and "Local Stories." These projects required meticulous research, creative problem-solving, and effective collaboration with museum staff. "Hide and Seek" facilitated important discussions on the provenance and classification of artefacts, while "Local Stories" highlighted the narratives and materiality of culturally diverse objects.

During my curatorship degree, collaborating with various museum specialists was an important aspect of my experience at the Iziko South African Museum. I worked alongside curators who specialised in different fields and collection managers. During this time, I completed a week-long course to better understand how to engage with archives and collections spaces and properly care for and maintain objects, including the tools and delicate procedures involved in their preservation.

My experience at Iziko honed my skills in exhibition design, collection management, and educational content creation.

As a writer for The Collector, an esteemed online journal, I have written extensively on ancient Greco-Roman history and culture. My articles, which cover topics such as classical literature, history, and philosophy, have been well-received by readers and have enhanced the journal's reputation. This role has sharpened my research and documentation skills and ability to communicate complex historical concepts to a broad audience.