Monday 29 March 2010

our empty shop


an empty shop for our residency has been found - 67 Wardwick, Derby.
it's been empty for several years and needs a good clean!
the space is nice - we think our residency will work well here.







Sunday 28 March 2010

our residency

the quality of being nothing - a three week residency exploring the point at which something comes into being. 


during this residency artists anna mawby and chie hosaka will work together for the first time.  united by a shared interest in human vulnerabilities, passing moments and the ephemeral nature of our existence, they will each bring their own artistic style alongside an openness to respond to the environment in which they are residing.  using an empty shop in derby as an artists’ studio, mawby and hosaka will react to the space.  limited to a stack of paper as their only materials, the artists will begin to create intimate and thought provoking work shaped by interactions with the public.  as the residency progresses the public will be able to witness the transformation of the space, observing the daily shift as the stack of paper depletes and the work begins to emerge. 


This project is part of Synapse Festival and supported by Derby City Council, Art and Empty Shops Scheme.

Saturday 27 March 2010

project title

we have decided on a title for our residency.

the quality of being nothing: 
a three week residency exploring the point at which something comes into being.

the title is literally the dictionary definition of nothingness.

it relates to the genesis theme of the synapse festival.  genesis is 'the coming into being of something'

it reflects the sense of emptiness in the empty shop, whilst acknowledging the fact that by being empty it is providing us with the opportunity to carry out this project.

the blank paper from which we will be working will give us the opportunity to explore this theme.

Monday 15 March 2010

browsing empty shops

today we met in derby to look at all the empty shops available for our project, we had to select our favourites so that the co-ordinator could negotiate with the landlords.
we selected the smaller shops, with not too much work needed in them - the old tregoning gallery is top of our list.
now we just have to wait and see...

Wednesday 10 March 2010

the start


the first time we met was for a meeting regarding the synapse festival.  
it was here that the opportunity to propose a research and development residency was suggested...

with a deadline for the proposal for 10am the next day.

today our proposal got accepted  :)



During this residency Anna Mawby and Chie Hosaka will work
together for the first time. United by a shared interest in human
vulnerabilities, passing moments and the ephemeral nature of our
existence, they will each bring their own artistic style coincided
with an openness to respond to the environment in which they are
residing.

Anna Mawby graduated from the University of Derby with a BA in
Fine Art in 2007, she continues to research, develop and create
new pieces of art full time from her studio in Wirksworth. Anna’s
individual practice has included exhibitions, residencies and
collaborations across the UK and abroad.

Chie Hosaka graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a BA
in Fine Art in 2007, and since then has continued to live and work
in Nottingham. Alongside her artistic practice, Hosaka also works
as an illustrator and collaborates with independent businesses and
artists for their marketing materials. She works in a range of
media, from drawing, to installation and sculpture.

Using the empty shop as an artists’ studio Anna Mawby and Chie
Hosaka will respond and react to the space. Limited to a stack of
paper and cardboard as their only material the artists will begin
to create intimate and thought provoking work shaped by
interactions with the public.

As the residency progresses the public will be able to witness the
transformation of the space, observing the daily shift as the
stack of paper depletes and the work begins to emerge.
The collaboration will naturally reflect the space that the
artists are working in, where visitors are free to walk in,
communicate with the artists and explore the artworks. It will
be an on-going project for the duration of the residency open to
the public to view and interact from the beginning to end. Site
specific and installation based work will be produced to explore
both artists' interests in the fragility of human emotions,
melancholic moments less acknowledged in everyday life and the
surreal nature of reality.