I have submitted my work to the prestigious Altiba9 international exhibition. I have also composed a new portfolio saved as a PDF file, especially for this purpose.
I have attached a screenshot of the email below:
Altiba9 International Exhibition.
Art Foundry Magazine
I have just been interview by Jasmine Meekings. She is one of the editors of the Art Foundry Magazine. This quarterly publication comments on a broad range of developments and complexities in the contemporary creative world. It contains several exciting interviews with artists from all-over-the-world and interprets their work and achievements.
The transcript of the interview is below:
- What is your contribution to the Virtual Summer Exhibition 2020 and what has motivated you to create this body of work?
Normally, we hold an end-of-the-year exhibition at the Gallery at South Devon College. Due to the pandemic, we were forced to move to the online learning environment. To make this event even more meaningful and exciting, I have reached out to a wide range of artists from all-over-the-world and a selection of former students. This has helped to elevate the prestige of this event and enable it to be viewed by many more people across different international boundaries, locations and time zones.
All staff have also been invited to exhibit their work to create a sense of cohesive artistic community. I will be taking part in the Virtual Summer Show and present my recent paintings and video work. These pieces were developed in response to my long-term research project based on exploring human responses to hypnotic repetition. I have gathered a broad range of primary sources from my travels. The most significant work was produced in consequence of my experiences in Haiti, Azerbaijan, Thailand and Myanmar.
2. What has your response been to COVID-19 as an artist? Has it affected your practice or how you operate?
The current lockdown has given me a chance to reflect on both my practice and the research findings. Subsequently, my present observations contradict the former status quo. The repetitive and mundane existence of people, who genuinely struggle with their survival has become something they yearn for. The nightmare of the past is now a desired dream for the future.
Paradoxically, the crisis has had a very positive and broadening impact on my visual exploration, journey of thought and understanding of the human tragedy and challenges.
3. What would you say is the role of an artist during this pandemic? Furthermore, what would your message be to other artists during this time?
The role of an artist is to develop a response to the broader contexts and visualise a subjective interpretation of the world. The pandemic encourages everyone to become creative and substitute access to unlimited resources with ideas, invention and a deep reflection.
Therefore, ‘the artist’ should be seen as a commentator and a sensitive observer of the dynamics within the turbulent and ever-changing contemporary society.
We are all very privileged to be able to watch history being made and recorded for posterity.
This exhibition will be an authentic document of a unique set of circumstances, hopefully not to be repeated anytime soon.
Pav Szymanski
painter
Mercers’ Art Award
I have spent a considerable amount of time preparing my submission for the above award.
Confirmation message is below:
Dubai Ideathon – Thank You Email and Letter
The organisers of the Dubai Ideathon 2020 have just sent me the following thank you letter and personalised email:
Emirates News Agency – Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Art Dubai Group conclude Dubai Ideathon
DUBAI, 15th April, 2020 (WAM) — The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and Art Dubai Group have concluded the Dubai Ideathon.
The workshop sessions, held recently, brought together international experts from different fields, all working collectively to find solutions.
Beginning on the 22nd of March, the initiative began with online workshops where 70 members of Dubai’s cultural SME’s and freelancers came together to identify the primary challenges facing the local creative community, from which list of challenges was put together.
On the 31st of March,…
— Read on wam.ae/en/details/1395302836894
Call for Digital Artist Residency
My submission is as follows:
Thank you for creating this exciting opportunity for artists during a time of global crisis.
Isolation format does not support the creative community. People with imagination and exciting ideas strive in the environment of collaboration and bouncing ideas of each other. They need to be bombarded with stimulus to allow them to formulate new and deeply reflective responses.
I have spent my life travelling to the most distant places (currently 99 countries). My creative intention is to observe people, who are suspended in the vacuum of waiting. Perhaps, the best distraction from this process is to focus on entrapment in hypnotic repetition. Interaction with people, interviewing them, drawing and photographing allow me to establish a unique sense of rapport and cohesion. After all, we are traveling through space on a piece of rock through space.
Recently, I have started to use a washing machine and the process of washing as a metaphor for cleansing and erasing. A bizarre process of an OCD-like sterilisation and removing images from their existence on canvas.
Therefore, I propose to interview a selection of people from the streets in a one-mile radius of your physical gallery space at 87 Princes Avenue, Hull, HU5 3PQ.
Perhaps, with your help, I would identify a number of possible individuals and contact them via Skype.
Following online interviews and photography, I would create a number of paintings to evidence the hypnotic repetition of waiting for the end of lockdown.
Video recordings of the washing of these canvases would become ready for submission as digital projections.
Erasing memories of isolation.
Many thanks
Pav Szymanski
Current research issue – Waiting: Hypnotic Repetition
Through my projects I feel that I discover my inner fears, longings and re-evaluate my uncertainties. My work seems to be an attempt to explore and question by metaphorical presentation my response to the hidden truths of the world. The essence of the value of these works is in their inherent meaning and an atmosphere, which manifests itself in the dusk of the space portrayed, thus the light may appear, where the hue of colour fulfils clarity and sounds with harmonious melody.
https://hypnoticrepetition.com/
https://www.behance.net/pavszymanski
Dubai Ideathon – Press Release
I am delighted to learn than my words have been quoted in a press release for the Dubai Ideathon. Out of 100 selected participants, only my commentary was chosen to be published in the article below:
Dubai Culture & Arts Authority and the Art Dubai Group conclude Dubai Ideathon | ZAWYA MENA Edition
I was astonished that my comment was used in a press release of this event. The organisers have selected my words to support the value and meaning of the entire undertaking. A link to the article is below.
Running from just April 7 – 8 2020, the Dubai Ideathon brought together a selection of international experts to develop potential solutions for the impact brought on by COVID-19 to the UAE's creative and cultural sector – ZAWYA MENA Edition
— Read on www.zawya.com/mena/en/press-releases/story/Dubai_Culture__Arts_Authority_and_the_Art_Dubai_Group_conclude_Dubai_Ideathon-ZAWYA20200415095332/
Zealous Stories: Mixed Media Submission
I have successfully submitted a range of mixed media images and related video pieces to the above open call. The confirmation screenshot is below.
Submission for Al-Tiba9 Platform for Artists
I have created a portfolio of recent work and submitted it for Al-Tiba9 Platform for Artists PERMANENT INTERVIEW.
Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision, project ideas and engage them with a diverse readership through a published art dialogue.
Selected artists are interviewed by the founder & curator Mohamed Benhadj to highlight their artistic career and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across a wide network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.
Confirmation of my submission is below.
Zealous Portfolio Challenge
I have spent the whole day preparing my submission to this fantastic opportunity created by Zealous. Their aim is to motivate artists to review their practice in the time of crisis. As a reward, selected three winners will receive a portfolio review from industry professional, David Ferry, who is the President of the The Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers.
Additionally, unsuccessful entries will receive another chance to reflect on their work. Zealous offer to arrange a comprehensive system of Peer-to-Peer Reviews.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the process of organising my portfolio online using their platform. Currently, I am nervously awaiting to hear back from the organiosors.
My confirmation email is below:
Dubai Ideathon- Day 2
Day 2 was also extended to most of day 3. My team – 11B got very passionate about crating a holistic and xcohesive platform. Our concept was to bring people together in a time of crisis, social distancing and isolation.
We produced a very comprehernsive proposal for a range of ideas and supporting online platforms. I was selected by the team to present our proposal to the forum of 174 observes via Zoom videoconference. Our proposal was very well received and the team and I are awaiting further news on a range of possible developments.
HYPNOTIC REPETITION 