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.
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.
I have submitted the following proposal to the DUBAI IDEATHON 2020: COVID-19 CRISIS. Tee idea is to make a contribution by responding to one of six themes. My chosen topic was as follows:
How can the creative community self-organise? And what kind of public-private collaborations can we explore to help support the cultural industries?
From the creation of talent pools, expertise directories and databases to skill-based collectives and collaborative businesses.
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 a response. Therefore, the key to success is in bringing people together through online plenaries and lectures; TED talks and exhibitions. Therefore, there is a need to design a platform, which can be roughly based on the concept of Microsoft Teams. However, the format and its key features must be directed at presentation and exchange of visual material, including sound, moving image and video. Current online galleries try to emulate the physical experience of walking through a building with art in it. An imitation of a holistic effect of simultaneous physical movement, observation, analysis and reflection is totally impossible to be achieved. Kinaesthetic learning cannot take place in front of a screen. Sitting down and looking at pictures is simply boring. Visitors tend to look at the first few pieces before switching off and leaving. Through brainstorming and a dynamic dialogue, there is a potential to develop tools and layouts to avoid this, or at least minimise its negative impact.
One of the most powerful public/ private collaborations is light projection. There are many artists using enlarged displays of text to promote their ideas, such as Jenny Holzer. Video mapping for advertising and the promotion of current issues is in its infancy. These techniques could be used as powerful tools to advertise art, performance and also increase public awareness. I am confident that government bodies would also like to elevate the significance of their messages and public appeals through this medium. I hope that my propositions go far beyond 3D printing of protection equipment for hospitals and switching the profile of the fashion industry to sewing face masks.
HOW IT WORKS
Dubai IDEATHON is a three-phased project:
PHASE 1: OPEN CALL
Open call to receive proposals that respond to one (or many) of the listed challenges.
PHASE 2: IDEATHON
Six ideation sessions with the participants of the open call will be organised based on the common challenges, and facilitated by specialised design-thinking experts, concluding in well-defined proposals.
PHASE 3: IMPLEMENTATION
Proposed solutions will be put to industry experts to help devise implementation strategies.
TIMELINE
THURSDAY APRIL 2
8am: Dubai IDEATHON submissions open for receiving ideas
SATURDAY APRIL 4
12am: Submissions close at midnight
SUNDAY APRIL 5
10am – 2pm: Groups are assigned and participants are sent workshop links
The private view was very well organised and attended. I have made several exciting contacts with artists from all over the world. Some work on display was truly magical and gave an individual insight into the colours and flavours of Africa and its people.
I have just made another submission of two video pieces. Art 23 seems to be very active in promoting artists through organising a number of exciting exhibitions.
Following my recent success with my work being selected for an exhibition at Art 23, I have submitted my new painting to the next competition.
I have just met the deadline and am nervously waiting to hear about the outcome.
The piece entered is As follows:
Title:
One Legged Pool Player
120 x 80
mixed media on unprimed canvas
2019
Artist statement:
Current research issue – Waiting: Uncertainties of Tomorrow
Through painting, printmaking, experimentation and risk taking, I try to question the idea of suspension in the vacuum of repetition. My focus is on entrapment in mundane routines, which are necessary in order to exist. My work is a vibrant and polychromatic attempt, to discuss the underlying narrative of lives of people, who I have developed a rapport with during my research expeditions.
The project is intended to be a deep, highly subjective and personal reflection on the essence and meaning of our repetitive journey through the ‘ocean’ of time, which is given to us – adventurous and bizarre travel between the boundaries of birth and death.
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.
Art Number 22 has already collected information to be printed in the catalogue for the exhibition. This will be available in both versions: printed and online.
Yesterday, a Facebook promotional campaign started to attract likes.
I enclose a screenshot of the most recent advert below:
HYPNOTIC REPETITION 