TECHNOLOGIES OF ARTISTIC CREATION 2022
TECHNOLOGIES OF ARTISTIC CREATION
2022
The collaboration between Center_kuda.org and High School for Design ‘Bogdan Šuput’ from Novi Sad was initiated as a long-term process in the development of extracurricular activities through the TECHNOLOGIES OF ARTISTIC CREATION program. This program framework is developed through interactive work with domestic and foreign artists and lecturers. The program develops extracurricular activities and is based on the idea of extended education with an emphasis on experiment, research and the collective process of work as an upgrade to basic education programs.
In the period from 2020 to 2022, within the framework of the program, the 'World of Plastic Waste' project was realized - a series of workshops in cooperation with the artistic group MINIPOGON from Belgrade, through learning about social engagement, sustainable design and the development of awareness of an environmentally responsible way of working, through art.
MINIPOGON is an experimental production unit dedicated to the development of available technologies and methodologies for the processing of discarded plastic waste through which alternative forms of production, cooperative relations, self-management are tested and the concept of fairness with an economic base is developed. It is an undertaking that implies an intervention in the field of work (in culture), its deconstruction and new creation within the marginal and rejected. Promoting the attitude that waste doesn't exist, MINIPOGON is critical of contemporary hyperproduction and consumerism and chooses to work with the marginal and rejected, both in material and social terms. By opening the field for consideration of new social and economic values, MINIPOGON also tries to create a place where the design of new, economic, ethically and ecologically more sustainable and fairer relations of production will be practically feasible and possible.
Through combined workshops, students of the Bogdan Šuput High School of Design had an opportunity to learn about all segments of the technological process of processing plastic waste according to the principle of operation of DIY technology developed by the 'Precious Plastic' international movement. This included collecting plastic, sorting by types 2 and 5, introducing students to work on DIY plastic processing machines, preparing plastic for shredding, pressing, extruding with the use of molds, etc., focused on devising a more sustainable product design, from recycled plastic, adopting and respecting the entire process of communication, public campaigns, which implies a completely new approach to work, art, technology, sociability and design.
Additional impact in diversity of approach and broadening of experience, students received through 2 residencies with foreign artists as part of workshops realized in 2022.
At the first residency of Aleksandar Carić (Portugal), the students learned about the artist's previous work on various sound projects and together with him they made xylophones (plasticophones) - musical instruments from recycled plastic rods made during the workshops, which stimulated an additional change of perception among the students in the potential of reuse of materials and the transformation of plastic waste.
At the next residency led by the artist Natalie Deewan (Austria), the students worked on the construction of a "statistical sculpture" through the development of topics (interests, religion, children's rights...) on the basis of which the statistical data necessary for the realization of the sculpture were obtained - an abacus/computer, where certain colors of pieces of recycled plastic rods that were made in the workshops, presented through topics, so that the results based on the visual impression were very easy to read.
At the same time, the workshops established a space for students to start a journalistic-literary section led by journalist Branislava Opranović, in which students followed the work process in the workshops through the written word and their own expression and disseminated information to the community of high school students by publishing their articles on the web. the website and social networks of the school.
Workshops with students were realized in the premises of the School and kuda.org during 2020-2022, during that framework of cooperation one more project was incorporated as logical extended activity 'Teaching Sustainable Design: Promoting Environmental Awareness Through Art' was successfully implemented within the framework of this long-term cooperation. The goal for this project was to introduce the teachers of the Bogdan Šuput School for Design to alternative methods of artmaking and community engagement. Minipogon introduced to the School and its students its methods for addressing plastic waste, labor practices, and economics through its participatory work.
Thus, in addition to workshops at the School, inclusive steps into the community were realized and public performances were held in the open space on the city beach 'Strand' and at the ‘Đul bašta / Roses Garden’ at Detelinara, which ended with an improv concert that combined sound of recycling machines, and instruments made of plastic waste.
The final public event, the exhibition and discussion of all those involved in the project, took place in the School hall on November 8, 2022, through the promotion and active participation of students and teachers in this project.
Within the framework of the project, during 2021 and 2022, a series of five webinars ‘Art in Public Space’ was realized through the training of all participants in the project - members of the art group Minipogon, professors, students and members of kuda.org, and in cooperation with the OPA Center from Pittsburgh, USA (Office of Public Art, Pittsburgh, US) in coordination with Rachel Klipa, with the aim of research and exchange of experience on socially engaged art projects in communities and the development of extracurricular programs.
As part of this webinars Rachel Klipa, developed a series of online workshops to introduce minipogon, kuda.org, and Bogdan Suput’s teachers to socially and civically engaged art practices in the United States. The goal for the online workshops was to help all involved learn more about the possibilities and potential outcomes of community engaged work that extends far beyond the realm of art.
At the webinars, we had an opportunity to get acquainted with the works of several American artists, and with the guest appearance of the multidisciplinary artist John Pena from Washington State, now based in Pittsburgh and Lindsey Scherloum from Pennsylvania, with the presentation of the project of the Association of Fine Artists of Serbia (ULUS) 'Work integration of artists in the local community' with 3 artists and local collaborators from Stara Pazova.
Participants in the TECHNOLOGIES OF ARTISTIC CREATION program and projects - World of Plastic Waste - Teaching Sustainable Design: Promoting Environmental Awareness Through Art
Center for new media_kuda.org, Novi Sad with collaborators: Jovana Jocić pedagogue and Branislava Opranović journalist.
Pupils of Bogdan Šuput High School of Art, Novi Sad
Teachers from Bogdan Šuput High School of Art, Novi Sad: Siniša Štetin, Slađana Ekres, Dragan Vojvodić, Zsuzsana Talosz, Dragan Ilić, Dubravka Popov, Adrienn Ujhazi
Art group MINIPOGON, Belgrade
Rachel Klipa, program manager of the Office for Public Art (OPA), Pittsburgh, USA
Natali Divan (Natalie Deewan), independent engaged artist, Vienna, Austria
Aleksandar Carić, experimental musician, Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal
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The Technologies of Artistic Creation program is being implemented during 2021/2022 with the support of the FfAI Foundation; City Administration for Culture of the City of Novi Sad; City Administration for Sports and Youth - Youth Office; of the International Relief Fund for cultural and educational organizations in 2021 of the German Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Goethe-Institut and others: www.goethe.de/hilfsfonds; Public Affairs Office. US Embassy Belgrade through supporting activities Teaching Sustainable Design: Promoting Environmental Awareness Through Art;