Sustainability of international female artist led exchange part 2
· Using virtual methods to keep in touch. Over the course of the project we have experimented with a breadth of communication platforms including email, tumblr, twitter, facebook, SMS message, skype, creating a newspaper. We have realised that different communication methods work best for different people, and are trying to use those methods to best effect on a person by person basis. This has had it’s ups and downs, as in some cases the changing format and more organic and flexible structure leads to break downs in communication. Also, time zones, limited access to technology, and cultural differences have contributed to difficulties in communication. On other occasions suitable channels have been found such as SMS messaging, twitter and skype which have allowed communication between countries where it might otherwise have been difficult. We identify that frequent, clear communication is essential to keep everyone with a full, clear view of the developing project although this is not always easy within a developing project structure.
As the project has progressed, relationships have developed to a stage where direct communication, mostly by email took over. However this only worked following an initial period establishing methods of sharing ideas, using the varied methods described above. This is not only particular to our communication with the artists in Istanbul, we have identified that we can use these virtual methods of communication more effectively within the UK. As POST does not have a permanent base, and it is sometimes difficult to meet altogether, we have implemented the lessons learnt about communicating across countries to communicating from one end of Merseyside to another.
· Opportunity for reflection. The process of working together on five separate occasions (4 newspapers and 1 exhibition) plus times of exchange between the countries has built into the project key points where we can reflect on how we are working together logistically and how we are working artistically. This has produced more dynamic responses within this more open framework. We have been able to share working methods, artworks produced and critical ideas behind the work. Combining residency and newspaper production periods this amounts to 15 weeks when exchange and conversation has been actively occurring. This period of time is longer than would have been afforded by exhibitions only, and has produced a deeper, more dynamic exchange experience for those involved.
We are surrounded by a culture where ‘product is king’, where we continually make sense of our place in the world through what we consume to evaluate success. The ways of working that POST has adopted in TRADING STATION has provided a place to meditate on these at times uncomfortable tensions that are part of life. Rather than challenging the status quo, we have been trying to work within it. For example, Tumblr and the newspapers helped uncover the different reading materials, films or radio programmes which individuals were consuming in their culture, with the thought process behind our work being revealed by viewing each others research and thinking during the year. Cecilia notes how the process worked for her:
“having a kind of collective ‘dropbox’ made up of different media, particularly helped me understand in a much more tangible way, the practice and ways of working of my fellow POST members, as well as providing opportunities for cross pollination in my thinking when not together in person.”
