Since researching artist residencies to apply for the Freedman Scholarship early this year; its been an interesting process of combining various sources of information into one compact bundle. Recommendations and precautions from family and friends, reading regional specific blogs and art journals and not to mention my Mandarin teacher for everything from food to galleries to tourist monuments to language and cultural barriers, it been all consuming reading, learning, collating and filtering the information ive been collecting.
The logistics of planning accomodation, visting museums and galleries, meeting up with friends and family in 8 European and Chinese cities over the next 3 months gets confusing at times. Then there is the map reading, figuring out public transport, numerous currencies in and out of favour with the Australian Dollar, it goes on. Also for the last couple of months, I have been learning slowly but surely to speak Mandarin. The most important sentences that I have mastered so far include: 'I want roast duck and dumplings', and the bargaining exclamation 'too expensive!'.
I am going to start the contemporary Chinese art and travel research with a short trip Brisbane this weekend, as the Asian Pacific Triennial 5 opens in the new Gallery of Modern Art, Queensland Art Gallery. Ive not been to an APT before and I thought the timing couldnt be better to do this now.
I will be in Hong Kong and China in the New Year, right in the middle of winter. Ive just read that in Shanghai its currently 8 degrees, I dont want to know what it will be in mid January.
10.27.2006
more from Kyrgyzstan
more from Lori Kirk
The collaboration will explore typical icons that represent and symbolise a culture and country. Shaarbeck Amankulov interested in using natural materials from the local environment stems from Amankulov's cultural history. The Kyrgyzstan people where nomadic living from and within the material environment. These roots of Amankulov influence's his creative art making process and choice of materials. For this collaboration materials include leather, fur and animal bones. Amankulov's sculpture will be combined with Australian artist Lori Kirk's replications of the Australian Koala. Kirk comments on the "cheapening" of culture through kitsch products sold to the tourism market attempting to capture an aspect or memory of that country or culture. The koalas made from felt and other materials inspired by "shyraks" (felt rugs with appliqued coloured panels) 'ala-kiyiz' (pressed wool designs) and local folk art patterns while staying in Kyrgyzstan.
I will send images of work and Art Centre in Kyrgyzstan once i can track down a computer that down loads images and can read Russian.
The collaboration will explore typical icons that represent and symbolise a culture and country. Shaarbeck Amankulov interested in using natural materials from the local environment stems from Amankulov's cultural history. The Kyrgyzstan people where nomadic living from and within the material environment. These roots of Amankulov influence's his creative art making process and choice of materials. For this collaboration materials include leather, fur and animal bones. Amankulov's sculpture will be combined with Australian artist Lori Kirk's replications of the Australian Koala. Kirk comments on the "cheapening" of culture through kitsch products sold to the tourism market attempting to capture an aspect or memory of that country or culture. The koalas made from felt and other materials inspired by "shyraks" (felt rugs with appliqued coloured panels) 'ala-kiyiz' (pressed wool designs) and local folk art patterns while staying in Kyrgyzstan.
I will send images of work and Art Centre in Kyrgyzstan once i can track down a computer that down loads images and can read Russian.
10.26.2006
Hello from Kyrgyzstan
An update from Lori Kirk, one of the 2006 Scholars:
Have arrived in Bishkek and starting to work on project gathering materials and preparing exhibition. Working at a studio space at the" Art centre" in Bishkek, directed by Shaarbeck Amankul.
The art centre is an organisation which consists of studio spaces and exhibition gallery's for local and international artists.The centre is interested in creating collaborations with local artists and artists from various countries. I will send more information about this organisation for other Australian artists to read on the NAVA site who may be interested .The finished project will be installed in gallery 1 of this centre in mid February 2007.
Images to come later.
Lori Kirk
Have arrived in Bishkek and starting to work on project gathering materials and preparing exhibition. Working at a studio space at the" Art centre" in Bishkek, directed by Shaarbeck Amankul.
The art centre is an organisation which consists of studio spaces and exhibition gallery's for local and international artists.The centre is interested in creating collaborations with local artists and artists from various countries. I will send more information about this organisation for other Australian artists to read on the NAVA site who may be interested .The finished project will be installed in gallery 1 of this centre in mid February 2007.
Images to come later.
Lori Kirk
10.16.2006
Travelling Scholarship Exhibition Opening
Opening on Saturday 21st October, 3pm at Depot Galleries, 2 Danks St Waterloo.
Curated by Nick Vickers, the exhibitions feature the winners of the Freedman Foundation Travelling Scholarship for Emerging Artists, both the returning scholars from 2004 and this year’s award winners. The scholarship, which has awarded over $185,000 over the last 6 years, encourages artists to further develop their career through overseas study or mentorship programs. Initiated by well-known arts patrons, the Freedman Foundation and administered by the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA), the scholarship has supported 37 artists in its short history.
With the opening function on Saturday October 21st, Depot I will feature work by 2004 Scholars Peter Alwast, Sean Cordeiro and Claire Healy, Danielle Hastie, Sarah Jane Pell and Ahn Wells.
Depot II will feature this year’s winners Jade Boyd, Lori Kirk, James Hancock, Astra Howard and Mimi Tong.
Depot I: Wednesday 18th October - Saturday 21st October
Depot II: Wednesday 18th October - Saturday 4th November
9.22.2006
Let's meet the 2006 winners
NAVA announced the winners of the Freedman Travelling Scholarship Award for Emerging Artists in late July 2006 and had a presentation on the 31st July at Artspace.
Whilst it was an intimate affair, it provided Laurence Freedman and opportunity to meet most of the winning artists and present them with their Scholarship.
Taken from the media release NAVA issued at the time, here's some information about this year's winners and some images of their previous work.
We look forward to hearing from some of these artists in the next few weeks about their current travels.
Five Emerging Artists win Freedman Travel Scholarships
Five of Australia’s most promising young artists have been awarded the 2006 Freedman Foundation Travelling Scholarship for Emerging Artists. The $5,000 awards will support overseas travel to further their careers.
Travelling to China with the financial support of the Scholarship, Mimi Tong, whose work often crosses the divide between painting, architecture and traditional paper-folding, will investigate “local construction techniques such as the use of bamboo scaffolding”. Mimi will also participate in the artist-in-residence program at Red Gate in Beijing to further her investigation of contemporary Chinese urban environments.
Lori Kirk from Melbourne will join with an artist from Kyrgyzstan to erect a traditional yurt and adorn the surrounding area with agapanthus flower sculptures and other Australian popular culture icons, to create a “hybrid mix of the traditional and foreign”. The Scholarship will enable the collaborative project, Home Extension, to be developed by Lori and Kyrgyzstan artist Shaarbek Amankul (who was represented at the 2005 Venice Biennale) to be installed in the mountains of Bishkek in 2007.
Heading to Vienna, James Hancock, from Sydney, will be using his award to participate in the artist-in-residence program at the invitation of the Austrian Federal Chancellery to further develop his city-based artworks and curatorial projects. “My fascination with what lies beneath the surface of the urban environment often leads me to collect pieces of the city to become a part of my artistic expression”.
Astra Howard from Sydney, will also be working with the urban environment, as part of the Cybermohalla project in Delhi, India which undertakes visual arts and social work with the slum communities of Delhi. With the money from the Scholarship, she “will extend upon previous research investigations into how city residents manipulate public spaces in order to survive”. For the duration of her project, Astra will be a resident at the established artist community of Sankriti Kendra and work with mentors at Sarai: New Media Initiative.
Currently in Oslo, Norway, the Scholarship will enable Jade Boyd to continue investigating “the supernatural landscape”. Travelling to Norway, Iceland, Germany and Romania, Jade will research Nordic/Scandinavian mythological landscapes and areas important to Romantic history.
The Freedman Foundation Travelling Scholarship for Emerging Artists was established in 2000 and is administered by the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA). In the last 5 years it has already helped more than 30 emerging artists to broaden their perspectives through travel overseas.
Whilst it was an intimate affair, it provided Laurence Freedman and opportunity to meet most of the winning artists and present them with their Scholarship.
Taken from the media release NAVA issued at the time, here's some information about this year's winners and some images of their previous work.
We look forward to hearing from some of these artists in the next few weeks about their current travels.
Five Emerging Artists win Freedman Travel Scholarships
Five of Australia’s most promising young artists have been awarded the 2006 Freedman Foundation Travelling Scholarship for Emerging Artists. The $5,000 awards will support overseas travel to further their careers.
Travelling to China with the financial support of the Scholarship, Mimi Tong, whose work often crosses the divide between painting, architecture and traditional paper-folding, will investigate “local construction techniques such as the use of bamboo scaffolding”. Mimi will also participate in the artist-in-residence program at Red Gate in Beijing to further her investigation of contemporary Chinese urban environments.
Mimi Tong, Folding Interface, 2005
Photo credit: Cath Martin
Lori Kirk from Melbourne will join with an artist from Kyrgyzstan to erect a traditional yurt and adorn the surrounding area with agapanthus flower sculptures and other Australian popular culture icons, to create a “hybrid mix of the traditional and foreign”. The Scholarship will enable the collaborative project, Home Extension, to be developed by Lori and Kyrgyzstan artist Shaarbek Amankul (who was represented at the 2005 Venice Biennale) to be installed in the mountains of Bishkek in 2007.
Lori Kirk, Duck Activator
Photo credit: Brendan Finn
Heading to Vienna, James Hancock, from Sydney, will be using his award to participate in the artist-in-residence program at the invitation of the Austrian Federal Chancellery to further develop his city-based artworks and curatorial projects. “My fascination with what lies beneath the surface of the urban environment often leads me to collect pieces of the city to become a part of my artistic expression”.
James Hancock, Cut Here, 2004
Photo credit: Megan Hicks
Astra Howard from Sydney, will also be working with the urban environment, as part of the Cybermohalla project in Delhi, India which undertakes visual arts and social work with the slum communities of Delhi. With the money from the Scholarship, she “will extend upon previous research investigations into how city residents manipulate public spaces in order to survive”. For the duration of her project, Astra will be a resident at the established artist community of Sankriti Kendra and work with mentors at Sarai: New Media Initiative.
Astra Howard, Domesticity, 2005
Currently in Oslo, Norway, the Scholarship will enable Jade Boyd to continue investigating “the supernatural landscape”. Travelling to Norway, Iceland, Germany and Romania, Jade will research Nordic/Scandinavian mythological landscapes and areas important to Romantic history.
Jade Boyd, Untitled Video Installation
The Freedman Foundation Travelling Scholarship for Emerging Artists was established in 2000 and is administered by the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA). In the last 5 years it has already helped more than 30 emerging artists to broaden their perspectives through travel overseas.
9.20.2006
Welcome to Freedman Travellers, the blog of the Freedman Foundation Travelling Scholarship for Emerging Artists.
Each year 4-5 young emerging artists under 30 head overseas on formal and informal study programs to expand their experience and influence their art practice. We mostly see the effects of these experiences through their exhibitions and the success they go on to have.
Freedman Travellers is the blog where you can read about it too. It's where current travelling artists can post about where they're travels are taking them and the exciting things that they're getting up to. It is also a place where previous winners can talk about the effect that the travel and the scholarship has had on their artistic practice as well as updates about exhibitions they are participating and other events they may be involved in.
If you're interested in applying for the Scholarship, you can find out more about it here too. There are links to the application forms on the NAVA website, and occasional posts from the variety of people involved in the Scholarship - the Freedman Foundation, Curators and NAVA administration so you get a real idea of the fantastic opportunity this Scholarship is for emerging artists.
Each year 4-5 young emerging artists under 30 head overseas on formal and informal study programs to expand their experience and influence their art practice. We mostly see the effects of these experiences through their exhibitions and the success they go on to have.
Freedman Travellers is the blog where you can read about it too. It's where current travelling artists can post about where they're travels are taking them and the exciting things that they're getting up to. It is also a place where previous winners can talk about the effect that the travel and the scholarship has had on their artistic practice as well as updates about exhibitions they are participating and other events they may be involved in.
If you're interested in applying for the Scholarship, you can find out more about it here too. There are links to the application forms on the NAVA website, and occasional posts from the variety of people involved in the Scholarship - the Freedman Foundation, Curators and NAVA administration so you get a real idea of the fantastic opportunity this Scholarship is for emerging artists.
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