The thing about translating photography & art catalogues is that you really need to know the lingo; there is great deal of variation between different kinds of art texts: thick and serious museum catalogues can sound differently from playful exhibition prospects, so you need more than terminology – apart from not confusing a bokeh with a bouquet, you’ve got to hit the right notes. I wasn’t sure I was cut out for all that, but a few years ago, I tried cooperating with the Moscow Art Magazine and the Garage Museum, translating material on visual art from Russian into English (and sometimes German) – and it seems to be working out! (What I find really hard, though, is to write “art catalog.” Some clients actually prefer this spelling, and client is king. Or queen. There, I ddi it.)
In fact, I’m writing this post right now instead of translating an artist’s interview that’s due today. Off to work, then!
