Friday 18 July 2008

SWAP / VAIHTO



Barbro Björkfelt, Andrew Bracey, Jonathan Carson, Anne Charnock, Fiona Curran, Sophia Crilly, Samantha Donnelly, Janet Griffiths, Eeva-Mari Haikala, Hannu Häkkinen, Hannu Karjalainen, Mark Kennard, Jaana Kokko, Tim Machin, Rosie Miller, Juhana Moisander, Egle Oddo, Mikko Oravainen, Ima Picó, Jonne Pitkänen, Virva Sointu, Marko Timlin, Tom Watson.


Swap/Vaihto is an exchange programme between UK and Finland-based artists to explore ideas around collaboration and working methodologies, alongside current issues of cultural identity and migratory art practice.

The project provides a unique opportunity for artists to spend time in residence in each country and engage in a period of research and production, culminating in exhibitions at Bureau and The Cable Factory, Helsinki. A related publication will be launched in Autumn 2008.

The UK and Finland-based artists are currently in residence at Bureau, collaborating to develop new works and an exhibition, which will take place from 19th July to 9th August. The artists will travel to Helsinki on 7th August for the second part of the project, to further develop their collaborative practice and explore the aspects of 'exchange' which they have been engaging with. This second part of the project will also include a residency and exhibition at The Cable Factory, Helsinki.



Swap/Vaihto was initiated by the Artist and Curator Ima Picó in 2007.
Organisation in Salford/Manchester, UK: Bureau (Sophia Crilly and Mark Kennard), Rosie Miller, Ima Picó.
Organisation in Helsinki, Finland: Namastic Art Collective, Virva Sointu.
Fundraising: Sophia Crilly, Ima Picó, Virva Sointu.

Exhibition of new works from residency at Bureau curated by Sophia Crilly and Mark Kennard.

Residency and exhibition forthcoming in Helsinki at Cable Factory. The idea of Swap/Vaihto is to establish the base for the British and Finnish artists to share their creative methodologies. Namastic Art Collective believes that this particular process of collaboration between artists cannot be curated without interrupting or interfering the development of the artworks. In Cable Factory the artists will show the vibrant dynamic of their work at different stages. The entire project represents the plurality of curatorial and artistic practice involved.


Swap/Vaihto is supported by the Arts Council of England, Arts Council of Finland, British Council, Bureau, The Cable Factory, HIAP, Laitilan Panimo Finland, Genelec, The Finnish Embassy, The Finnish Institute, Salford City Council and Fatboy.




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