Still . . . silence
I have been researching in the last few days and found a new Tate Research Paper, Border Crossing by Felicity Allen which reflects on a Tate initiated partnership project called Nahnou-Together . The project started in 2004 and continues today, exploring the shared learning and understanding between young people, artists, curators and educators who have collaborated in Palestine, Syria and London.
The paper reflects on the strength and distinction of the cultural differences between the groups and how those affected the stages of the project to date. It is clear that the project shifts as time progresses; the increased sharing of knowledge and understanding underpins and develops collaborative success, and only comes with time.
Allen also reflects on her own learning:
one must focus on process rather than narrowly defined targets, and the process should refer to the knowledge gained about being prepared to fumble in the dark, to doubt and not to know, as well as to keep listening to theory and looking at practice to help reflection. This includes self-reflection.
For me this seems to be a great starting point for any collaboration; being open to the process, to fumble, doubt, not know, and I feel critically important for me; to reflect.
In such a short timescale it seems impossible to believe that I can achieve true collaboration; perhaps I can hope to develop a good foundation on which to build for future projects.
