Description
‘Climbing Invisible Structures. Ritualised Disciplinary Practices in Social Life’ is a curated visual arts residency exchange and exhibition programme. The project aims to stimulate the dissemination of professional art in the regions and to build mutual interest in Norwegian, Icelandic and Lithuanian contemporary visual art and culture. It is focused on the contemporary understanding and application of the phenomenon of discipline. The project intends to go beyond the interpretation of discipline as a destructive force. It rather regards discipline as a voluntary self restriction chosen by contemporary individuals as a constructive way to deal with anxiety which is caused by unlimited freedom. It is planned to organize two-month residencies hosted by the partner institutions for 10 artists of the three countries on the topic of discipline, and to present their results (at least 10 visual and interdisciplinary works of art) to the public in the regions of Lithuania and in Norway. Also, a joint seminar will be organized at NAC, with all the participating artists, curators, guest speakers, students and representatives of the partner institutions. The Office for Contemporary Art Norway (Norway), the Nordic Artists' Centre Dale (Norway) and Skaftell Center for Visual Art (Iceland) are donor project partners in this project.
Summary of project results
The aim of the project was to stimulate the dissemination of professional art in the regions of Lithuania and to build mutual trust and interest in Norwegian, Lithuanian and Icelandic contemporary visual art and culture. The project was implemented by Nida Art Colony of the Vilnius Academy of Arts located in Nida, Neringa, and 4 partners from Norway, Iceland and Lithuania. Following activities were implemented during the international creative co-production project: residency exchange of Lithuanian (4), Norwegian (5) and Icelandic (1) visual and interdisciplinary artists; presentation of project results - one exhibition made of at least 10 newly produced contemporary art works – in the regions in Lithuania (Neringa, Klaipėda reg., and Žeimiai, Jonava reg.), in Vilnius and in Oslo; joint seminar of all project participants and students of Vilnius Academy of Arts; 6 hours of educational activities with Vilnius Academy of Arts students. Creative part of the project were directed by 1 Lithuanian and 1 Norwegian curator. The concept of the creative part is discipline today. Discipline was understood not only as destructive force in the project. It was also regarded as a constructive way to deal with anxiety which haunts contemporary society and is caused by unlimited freedom. Participating artists touched upon different aspects of the phenomenon of discipline and researched how it manifests itself in today’s manifold religious, sport, health, etc. activities. Target groups of the project: non-professional all ages audience in the regions of Lithuania, Norway and Iceland; professional audience of young and mid-career artists, and students of Vilnius Academy of Arts. The project stands out due to its very strong and professional partners, majority of which are routed in rural areas. Due to its exceptional format – artistic residencies – the project not only empowered to create and to present original and innovative art works, but also gave a chance for project participants to get to know cultures and everyday life of participating countries. Experience of the project partners testifies that during the 2 month long residencies in small towns (except Oslo) artists integrated in to local communities. As a consequence, their art works become more interesting and more accessible to the residents of the rural areas.
Summary of bilateral results
OCA is a foundation that aims to become one of the main organs in the contemporary arts debate through initiatives such as exhibitions, seminars, publications, as well as by providing support to Norwegian artists for their activities on the international art arena. It contributed to the project with human and administrative resources by actively participating in the development and implementation of the project, spreading information about the project, taking part in selection of artists, hosting 1 Lithuanian artist and taking part in other activities. It also delegated a Norwegian curator for the project. As one of the biggest and prominent residency centres in the Nordic Countries NKDale shared their experience of organizing their Artist in Residence programme. It also spread information about the project, took part in selection of artists, and hosted 2 Lithuanian resident artists with inspiring living and working conditions which are famous for giving artists an opportunity to contemplate and concentrate solely on their work. Skaftfell Center for Visual Art plays the leading role in the east of Iceland in presenting visual art, and providing information, assistance and education on art and art-related subjects. It contributed to the project with human and administrative resources by actively participating in the development and implementation of the project, spreading information about the project, taking part in selection of artists, hosting 2 Lithuanian artists and taking part in other activities. It also organized and hosted one solo show of the Lithuanian artist in residency. Ars Communis Residency Centre YO-YO is a non-profit organization based in the Žeimiai Estate (Lithuania). The organization operates as a project-oriented platform that facilitates a multifaceted approach to artistic practice and research. It contributed to the project with human and administrative resources by actively participating in the development and implementation of the project, spreading information about the project, taking part in selection of artists, hosting 1 Norwegian and 1 Icelandic artist and taking part in other activities. It also provided venue for one of the project's exhibitions.