Helen Cahng recently joined the Department of Aviation as curator of the Philadelphia International Airport’s (PHL) Airport Exhibitions Program.
Cahng brings over 25 years of experience to PHL. She received her bachelor of fine arts from the University of the Arts and her master of fine arts from Otis College of Art and Design. She has worked at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Hammer Museum, and Art Center College of Design in the greater Los Angeles area. As a curator, Cahng will liaise with artists to help them create exhibitions and realize them in the airport space.
“Philly is a hidden gem city. The many art schools here constantly produce artists who want to stay. We are bringing attention to local talent,” she said.
Cahng added, “I want to create engaging experiences for the wide variety of visitors that come here. I walked by the Lavett Ballard: Say A Little Prayer exhibition and overheard one woman state how much she loved the artwork at PHL. PHL does not approach exhibitions like we’re a substandard gallery. We recognize the unique challenges of showing work at a bustling, heavily trafficked space. I want to break through the din of airport noise and create exciting, engaging ways to interact with art.”
Cahng also appreciates the It’s a Wrap 2 exhibition by Terminal A-East as it incorporates the walls, windows, ceiling, HVAC, and rocking chairs with the art. “I love that the work pops out,” she said. “It takes advantage of unexpected places to experience art.”
PHL’s Airport Exhibitions Program was founded by current PHL Guest Experience Director Leah Douglas in 1998. The program promotes the airport's unique cultural life and enriches the traveler's experience by presenting rotating exhibitions throughout PHL and offering a variety of educational and cultural programs during the year. Through the Exhibitions Program, Philadelphia’s visitors from around the world can access a wide range of art forms by local artists and arts institutions.
“It is so exciting to have developed a program that has truly become part of the airport’s identity and culture,” said Douglas. “Now, with Helen taking the lead, it will be sustainable for many years to come. I am looking forward to seeing how the program changes and continues to develop under Helen’s curatorial leadership.”
“Leah has been fantastic at introducing me to everyone,” said Cahng. “It’s been great meeting everyone from all different corners of the airport,”
Cahng admires how the Exhibitions Program promotes diversity. “We have a large contingent of artists, people of color (POC), women, artists fresh out of school, self-taught artists and seasoned artists,” she said.
At PHL, Cahng would like to focus on accessibility. “One thing I’d like to explore is the idea of accessibility,” she said. “Art is largely thought of as strictly visual, but it often incorporates other senses. I want to think about accessibility in different ways. There are tactile elements like crocheted chairs so people can touch art, which is usually frowned upon in museums and galleries. In a recent collaboration I did with The Free Library of Philadelphia, we worked with a company that creates material for visually impaired individuals. We were able to incorporate braille into the exhibition. Since the exhibition was about maps, some of the maps were interpreted in relief patterns so visitors could experience a topographic map with their hands. There were braille leaflet maps.”
Cahng has been excited to look through the program’s history and recognize artists she knows personally but was unaware that they showcased their work at PHL. She’s also looking forward to new opportunities at the airport. “One of the things I’m really excited about is learning about the Wingmate Guest Pass program,” she said. “It’s nice that people don’t have to buy a plane ticket to experience the art. It’s also a way that the airport can bring in bigger audiences.”
