Beyond the Public/Private Divide: Global Corporate Art Museums and Discursive Power (MA Thesis)

Exhibitions are not just showcases; they are the institution’s way of speaking to the world, embodying its beliefs, ideologies, and vision. Through this “speech act,” the museum assumes the discursive power associated with its curated content through the vehicle of exhibitions.

A year-long research project grounded in archival inquiry, data analysis, and interdisciplinary theoretical review, completed under the guidance of professor John Rajchman. This 96-page thesis investigates the emergence of corporate art museums during the global museum boom of the early 21st century, with case studies focused on China’s unique sociopolitical context—specifically, the Minsheng Art Museums in Beijing and Shanghai (established by Minsheng Bank) and the Taikang Art Museum in Beijing (supported by Taikang Insurance Group). Through a critical examination of their historical development, curatorial direction, funding structures, and corporate governance, the research offers insight into a pivotal moment of sociocultural transition and considers future directions for institutional models in the cultural field.