Break 1: Launch at Whitechapel Project Space
on Tue 26th October |
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Abigail Reynolds at the Whitechapel Project
Space in London.
The launch event offered a private view into the
project, the practices of the participating artists and the process
of exchanges that had just begun, as well as an invitation for anyone
interested to take part in this ongoing dialogue.
The launch functioned as the first one in a series
of breaks, open forums for discussion and debate, that take place
during each phase of the project in both of the cities. They offer
moments of pause in the process and invite other local practitioners
to take part in the dialogue bringing in their creative and critical
views on the concerns of the project. The breaks aim to also open
space for communication and collaborations that may spin off beyond
the set frames of City Breaks.
TUE 19.10.04
Opening at the Finnish Embassy: everyone (except Irit and Isaac)
met for the first time a couple of days after Anu, Minna and Simo
had arrived to London and seemed to click with each other
pretty well.
WED 20.10.04
Taru visited Whitechapel Project Space with Anu, Minna and Simo
and met Richard there.
SAT 23.10.04
Everyone were invited to Irits and Isaacs to show their
work to each other and to talk about the project over a glass of
wine and some food. Frustrations erupted unexpectedly, as the artists
from Helsinki expressed their concerns about how the exchanges pivotal
to it were supposed to take place as they felt the London-based
group was not interested in a dialogue with them, but had left them
to their own devices during their visit. Even though this incidence
inevitably caused some tensions between the group, fortunately it
did not deepen the gap between them further, but provoked more proactive
engagements and efforts from all parties involved.
SUN 24.10.04
Everybody (except Taru and Chris) gathered at Irit's and Isaac's
again to discuss various ideas and get helped with practical issues.
Simo wanted to have an hands-on start on the project by producing
something new already to the first launch event at the White Chapel
Project Space. He presented his idea and the texts for the "Stencil
Writings". The piece changed remarkably due to the input of
the group.
TUE 26.10.04
Launch at Whitechapel Project Space
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