“The Strength of Art” Seminar
I woke up early, but not as stressed as i was expecting to be. Today was the “Strength of Art” seminar for the Ars Hame at the Art Museum where i was presenting a paper. I have been waiting for this day for months:hours of agonising over what i should say and why, piles of books read, word documents written and rewritten…
I liked the audience very much, in fact i like Finn’s very much… they seem very quiet but you are aware that a lot is going on in their minds, and when they say something, it is very considered and sincere. I prefer this to the British way where we just seem say everything but can sometimes mean very little.
The majority of the seminar was in Finnish, so it was lost on me, Lisa Torell was the only other artist speaking in English. I enjoy only being aware what is happening 90% of the time, its like i can tune out and occupy my own thoughts whilst the rest of the world is busy around me.
I spoke for 40 minutes about my practice, and how traces and spaces can inform this, working site responsively and the importance of process in my drawing. There are always things that you forget to say, but i was careful to go slowly as English is some Finn’s third language – i thought it better to say a little that was meaningful rather than a lot which was impenetrable.
The event as a whole was interesting, i ofcourse enjoyed Lisa’s presentation about form, context and spaces and how we interpret such situations through language. The event raised discussion and awareness of a town’s responsibility to its community and how we respond to it.
The only event that i now need to focus on is my Line Drawing performance tomorrow evening. I am so amused that two weeks ago i was petrified by the thought of doing “performance” art and that now it seems to be the most natural and immediate medium for me.
