10 Nov 2015
From a Beijing hutong to downtown Bangkok, New Zealand artists will be immersed in exciting new arts scenes in Asia after being chosen for the Asia New Zealand Foundation’s 2016 residencies.
The Foundation has announced the successful applicants for six residencies in China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. They will live and work in Asia at prestigious residency organisations for three months and will have the opportunity to meet and work with other international artists and curators.
The Asia New Zealand Foundation has run a programme of artist-in-residence opportunities in Asia since 2007, exposing New Zealand artists to new ideas and experimental art forms in some of Asia’s most vibrant cities. Since 2010, the Foundation has partnered with Creative New Zealand to deliver three of the residencies.
Asia New Zealand Foundation is also advertising a residency in Cemeti Art House in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, with applications closing on Monday 30 November. “Yogyakarta is the spiritual and cultural centre of Java, the world’s most populous island, and is a fantastic setting to experience Indonesia’s diverse art forms and religions,” says Asia New Zealand Foundation director culture Jennifer King.
The successful candidates for 2016 are:
Deanna Dowling (Wellington) – Youkobo Artspace, Tokyo, Japan (residency supported by Creative New Zealand)
Dowling’s research is driven by an interest in sculptural and place-based practice, using site and material investigations in order to provoke discussion and draw out contextual narratives. “The time spent in Tokyo will allow me to gain valuable knowledge about a different culture’s sensibility to materiality, and their respect of past histories in considering progress.”
Andrew de Freitas (Auckland) – I: Project Space, Beijing, China
De Freitas uses a wide range of tools and production processes in order to explore the peculiarities embedded in everyday experiences. He has screened, performed and exhibited works in various contexts internationally. “The opportunity to undertake this residency in Beijing presents me with a chance to get closer to a cultural scene that despite its proliferation in recent years still remains relatively obscure.”
Yona Lee (Auckland) – SeMA Nanji, Seoul, South Korea (residency supported by Creative New Zealand)
Lee plans to develop a new body of work that will build on her previous site-specific installations. “The aim of the residency is to re-familiarise myself with Korea. I was born in Korea and immigrated to New Zealand when I was young. The experience of displacement has complicated and created confusion in the relationship with my home country.”
Lana Lopesi (Auckland) – Taipei, Taiwan (residency supported by Creative New Zealand)
Lopesi is a writer and artist interested in accessible projects that use mass production as a way of highlighting untold histories. She hopes to further explore the potential of publishing projects on the Taipei Artist Village Residency, Taiwan and to see how they can be used to connect indigenous voices from across the Pacific and Asia. She is the co-founder and editor for #500words, a website for critical discourse on art and culture.
Paul McLachlan (Dunedin) – Surface Arts, Bangkok, Thailand
McLachlan’s background is in painting and printmaking but a large component of his art practice uses digital media. His recent work explores communal understandings of New Zealand history and traditions. “In Thailand I intend to investigate the relationship between Buddhist mythology and the realities of Thai life in Bangkok, highlighting ideas of human-connectedness and empathy.” He is looking forward to building relationships with Thai craftspeople.
Sarah Jane Parton (Wellington) – Rimbun Dahan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Parton plans to produce a series of performance-based video works using the indigenous garden at Rimbun Dahan as a set. Parton is interested in the social-political context of the Malay peninsula, both historic and contemporary. She is interested in the juxtaposition between old and new; colonial and post-colonial; jungle and architecture.
Asia New Zealand Foundation director of culture Jennifer King says the Foundation is particularly excited about two residencies that are being offered for the first time in 2016.
“I: Project Space is located in one of Beijing's last remaining hutong alleyways and Rimbun Dahan is the home of eminent Malaysian architect Hijjas Kasturi and his wife Angela.
“These residencies are often life-changing experiences for New Zealand artists and we’re looking forward to seeing their works and the collaborations that result.”
Creative New Zealand senior manager Cath Cardiff says: “Strengthening our country’s artistic links with Asia is a focus for Creative New Zealand and we’re pleased to partner with Asia New Zealand Foundation to support the Japan, South Korea and Taiwan residencies.”
The Asia New Zealand Foundation is the leading non-government organisation on New Zealand-Asia relations, with a range of programmes designed to equip New Zealanders with first-hand experience of Asia and to forge valuable links to the region. Founded in 1994, the Foundation works in five main areas - business, arts and culture, education, media and research. It also runs a Leadership Network and takes a lead role in track II (informal diplomacy) bilateral and multilateral dialogues in the Asia-Pacific region.
For more information or to contact the artists:
Asia New Zealand Foundation
Media adviser
Rebecca Palmer
04 470 8701
CATEGORIES: Fellowships awards and residencies Latest news and blog
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