Wayward art initiatives

Wayward art initiatives

Istanbul, Turkey

The Değişken İnisiyatifler / Wayward Initiatives symposium brought together peripheral art initiatives from Türkiye and Sweden in order to open up a common discussion about methodologies, formats and cultural resilience. Held between 5 – 8 December, the first meeting of the program took place at İMÇ, SAHA Studio’s new location, with visits to 5533, Imalathane and 400 x 118, located in the same building.  

The symposium took the form of workshops, site visits, presentations and events over the course of three days. During the program,How does one develop artistic methodologies in relation to working in a hyper-local context? How can one engage in cultural heritage and local histories? Can the production of art have a positive effect on the environment? How can we design adaptable and multifarious spaces which ensure sustainability? questions were explored together.

The project was initiated by the Consulate General of Sweden and developed in collaboration with SAHA and Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV). The project is supported by the Swedish Arts Council together with IASPIS the Swedish Arts Grants Committee ́s International Programme for Visual and Applied Arts.

Participating Initiatives: 
Arazi Assembly, Mardin , Coyote, Stockholm, Hayy Open Space, Izmir, Ka Atölye, Ankara, Kulturhane, Mersin
Kultivator, Öland, Loading, Diyarbakir, Postane, İstanbul, Ställbergs Gruva, Ljusnarsberg , SUB, Çanakkale 

 

Residens Symbiotiska kopplingar i och med Rogsan

Residens Symbiotiska kopplingar i och med Rogsån, Falun

From two residence periods in the summer of 2023 in and with the small river “Rogsån”, Kultivator invited to a gathering In Österå village community building, previous village school. Malin Lindmark Vrjman and Mathieu Vrjman from Kultivator held a presentation of their artistic practice, and gave three workshops/actions that dive deeper into the river Rogsån, and at the same time starts a network work around and with watercourses in Sweden, Norway and Canada. In the first workshop, "a fleet for the future", Mathieu Vrijman invites you to equip (and then launch) boat sculptures for the challenges of the future. The models are inspired by the finds of ancient log boats that were made in  Igeltjärn near Rogsån in the 1930s, and disappeared from Dalarna's museum in the 60s. The boats, and descriptions of fishing gear that were found near them, indicate Sami presence in the area. What knowledge and approaches to the water in the landscape have been pushed aside and forgotten in the story of our common past? How can we lift and remember the forgotten in the face
of the change the climate crisis and the mass extinction of species are presenting to us? The conversation and fitting out of the boats is followed by a joint walk to Rogsån, where they are launched for further travel through the water system. The second workshop, "The Net" is led by Malin Lindmark Vrijman with the help of Lina Sofia Lundin. Here we materialize the network of waterways by literally tying a web together, of the fibers and with the craft knowledge found in the area. For Rogsåns net, we use flax yarn, grown, processed and spun nearby. During the work with the hands, we invite to also share stories, memories, or other
thoughts around the river, based on material from a study circle that is available to take part in during the workshop. The piece of net we tie while we talk becomes the very first part of the Net which will travel on to other places near watercourses, where it is tied further with other people who have a relationship with their water, with other local materials/ fibers, and other stories. We think of the net as a work that never ends, but can travel around to communities near water as long as
someone has the strength to carry it. In the last workshop/action, those who want to go with the local Fishing association out to Rogsån
and we contribute tangibly together to their work with the restoration of the river for increased
biological diversity.

THE OBSERVATORY: ART AND LIFE IN THE CRITICAL ZONE

THE OBSERVATORY: ART AND LIFE IN THE CRITICAL ZONE

revolves around the intricate relationships among humans, animals, plants, earth material, and other forms of life. The exhibition brings together a collection of new and existing artworks by twenty-six artists who, in diverse ways, actively engage with the multifaceted elements present in the “critical zone.” These elements encompass a wide range, spanning from earthworms and oil birds to imagined beach creatures and resilient potatoes, from indigenous landscapes and micro-territories to rainwater and archives of rural-based alternative communities across Europe and West Asia. The artists have employed painting, drawing, video, sculpture, performance, workshops, agriculture, and other means of expression, which will co-exist in a dynamic display at Södertälje konsthall.

Residence by Hosting lands at Padenandenside

Residence by Hosting lands at Padenandenside

As a part of the project Hosting Lands, Kultivator did field work at Padenandenside (PDAS) and was invited to join in the design and construction of a water collector for the common field, many inspiring conversations on hosting, and a workshop creating new Post revolutionary exercises.