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Network News
News from the Hong Kong International Artists' Workshop
2008: 4 x 4
The Hong Kong International Artists' Workshop: 4 x 4 took place from March
17 - May 23 2008, as two process-based workshops,
each lasting four weeks. Eight artists from Hong Kong were joined by eight international
artists travelling to the workshop from places
such as Germany, India, America, Australia, and the UK.
Based in Sham Shui Po, some artists used the
immediate area as inspiration for their work.
Peruvian artist Sandra Nakamura traces the migration footprints, literally,
with stamp prints on the ground. At the edges between the old and new
housings in the area, architect Paul Chu set up a
mobile buffer space for residents from both to mingle. Eve Armstrong from New Zealand transferred the plants left behind
by residents, and offered them for "adoption"
by the public.
Another unique aspect to the workshop was the relationship the artists
gained with students from the Kowloon Technical
School where a mentorship programme was set up,
encouraging the students to assist the artists in their work and guide them
around the neighbourhood.
Kurt Chan
asked the students from KowloonTechnicalSchool to
write their blessings on oranges and gives away to local residents. Through
this give-and-take action, both projects attempt to address, and in a way,
re-establish, the potential breakdown of social networks and Hong Kong's Adrian Wong staged a shadow play
in collaboration with the residents and students, expressing their hope of
the area.
During each of the two workshops the participating artists presented their
work to the public through talks hosted at Osage Gallery. The talks gave
members of the public the opportunity to discuss with the artists their
experiences whilst on the workshop as well as question their individual
practice.
The workshop continued in the spirit of Re:Wanchai, AiR's
pilot programme which took place in 2005.
For more information: see the website
Abro International Artist Workshop Ethiopia
The first Abro International Artist Workshop was held at Asni Gallery in Addis Ababa from 14th to 27th April
2008 and was a great success, bringing together a range of practicing
visual artists from across Africa. The workshop was coordinated by Konjit Seyoum and facilitated
by artist Mulugetta Kassa
and others. Maggie Otieno from Kenya, who attended the workshop shared her thoughts…
’As a participating artist, the workshop was a means to creating a
podium for artistic interaction, experimentation and dialogue in a bid to
enhance artistic experiences amongst the participating artists.
Participating artists from Addis were a mixture of fresh art graduates from
the Addis Ababaschool of Fine Art as well as
experienced, well travelled artists. The young
artists displayed the real attitude needed in a workshop environment. They
were able to use materials found within, around and outside of their
working space to create work that normally will not be done in their own
studio spaces. From my observation painters at the workshop not only
painted and but also ventured into the experimentation pool.’
The open day attracted a large crowd of visitors who came to give their
support to Abro International workshop. The guest
of honour, State Minister of Culture and Tourism
H.E. Ato Mohamouda Ahmed
Gaas, opened the workshop open day event with
words of encouragement on the government’s desire to support the arts
and artistic initiatives by art organisation's
in a bid to make art more visible to the wider public. Visitors were
treated to a range of artistic works including a game of volley ball dubbed
'No Visa', suggesting a ban on visa to Africans crossing borders to other
countries. This piece was inspired by Zenzele Chulu from Zambia who amongst other artists almost
missed the opportunity to participate in the workshop because of visa
complications.
Images from the workshop can be seen on African Colours
website
Upcoming Tulipamwe Workshop
The Bag
Factory’s sister organisation in Namibia, Tulipamwe,
will be hosting a workshop in a remote Namibian rural village. The
workshop was open for international artists to apply and will take place in
mid August from the 16th – the 30th.
Greatmore Studios' Tenth Anniversary
2008 marks Greatmore Studios'
tenth anniversary. The four original committee members
started working together in the mid eighties, meeting to make art with artists
from across the region at the short two week creative meetings that
slowly picked up momentum and became commonly known as Thupelo workshops.
In 1996 the
two buildings in Woodstock were purchased by Isky Gordon and Robert Loder and
it is Greatmore Street that lent the studios its name.
This initiative followed on from the successful residency and exchange
programs initiated by the Bag Factory in Johannesburg.
Projects at Greatmore Studios include
residencies, visiting artists’ programmes,
outreach and open studio interaction.
During the past ten years, over 4000 people have been
impacted by these programmes in the
community. The administrative centre has provided networking and fund
raising support for artists and their various projects.
At this point, Greatmore
Studios urgently needs more physical space for
artists to work. They have started a building fund which has to date
provided funding for a small extension to the existing
building which will be used as an events’ space .This fund
has also been allocated to assist with much needed renovations to the existing
buildings.
To
celebrate and reflect on the extraordinary impact that Greatmore
Studios and Thupelo Cape
Town have had in the community, in Southern Africa and abroad the organisation have
proposed to host a raffle draw.
For the
raffle to be realised, Greatmore
would like 100 artists to donate a work on paper, less than 100 x 70 cm in
size, in any medium; print, painting, photography or
digital . The tickets will be sold for R1600 or £100 pounds
each. It is our hope that each ticket holder will receive a work of art.
Several artists have already committed to donating artworks, including some
internationally known SA artists.
Greatmore studios would like to invite you to
join them in their celebration, and would like to ask you to consider
donating one piece of art work for this important cause.
The time
frames are as follows:
31July
2008 - deadline for delivery/collection of art works, details to
follow
August 2008 - all work will be documented and made
available on the website and in a brochure.
September 2008 - ticket sales begin.
14
November 2008 - artists will be invited to join us
at Greatmore Studios for the draw and a day
long celebration.
Please see Greatmore Studios’s
website, www.greatmoreart.org to subscribe to
their newsletter and for detailed updates about their ongoing
projects.
If you have
any queries please contact Sisanda or Mishkaah on 021 4479
699 .
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