The project BOWA: Explore female artists from Belarus (2022-06-01-2024-06-01) is designed by the curator Ludmila Christeseva (Sweden) in a dialogue with the Belarusian colleague Irina Solomatina. The aim is to discuss and develop different strategies for bringing visibility to Belarusian female artists, including artist residencies, exhibitions, and publications. The initiative is funded by the Swedish Institute.
Ludmila Christeseva, originally from Belarus, has established a broad professional network in Sweden and worldwide. Her professional activities span over 20 years in the cultural sector. Her mission is to share her network with Belarusian female artists to empower her colleagues and provide them with opportunities for professional development. This is particularly crucial in the context of the current political regime, which imposes restrictions and risks, driven by a conservative agenda toward women in art practices and beyond. Christeseva has invited the Swedish experts Louise Wallenberg and Ulrika Skoog Holmgaard to participate in the project BOWA: Explore female artists from Belarus. Louise Wallenberg is a professor in fashion and film studies. Ulrika Skoog Holmgaard is a cultural producer, project management, founder & CEO for Scenit Produktion AB (Sweden).
A collective of Belarusian female artists were invited to Izmir for artists resdiency summer of 2022, Turkey to K2 Urla Breathing Zone (K2UBZ), which is a naturally preserved 45-decare land surrounded by a pine forest in Kuşçular district of Urla. This was a first collective trip enabled with the fund from the Swedish Institute. This trip enabled a unique opportunity for the Belarusian artists to connect, create novel works, produce podcasts and meet Turkish colleagues for inspiration and networking. In the end of the residency, the Belarusian artists created a unique symbolic artwork “Home” showcased globally.
Belarusian artists with support of the Swedish Institute will create a new book.
Belarusian artists will conduct artist in residency in Izmir, Turkey, with support of the Swedish Institute.
Our program in Izmir
Belarusian artists create.
In 2019, the curator Irina Solomatina brought together sixteen Belarusian women artists to illustrate a book She was about sixteen outstanding women in Belarusian history. With support from the Swedish Institute Creative Force Program for international projects, we aim to design another book about other female actors shaping the Belarusian culture and politics. For that, we also invite five Swedish illustrators and one Turkish visual artist.
Art by Belarusian female artists.
After publishing the book, the curator Irina Solomatina initiated a series of artist talks with artists who contributed to the book project. The artist talks are available in a video and podcast format. During artist in residency in Izmir, we would like to invite two local female artists to exchange experiences of being an artist and a woman on the global art scene.
Art by Belarusian female artists.
Crafts that unite, heal, and last is an international craft movement designed to support and unite women in the creative industries. During our stay in Izmir, we would like to meet local women who love to craft for their homes and families. Such self-expression is rather a duty and a pleasure. It has never been a feasible source of income, however. This has not changed for generations and has inspired a broader research project in the field of artisan know-how and creativity. Can women from different cultures still use traditional craftsmanship and artisan know-how, but turn it into a platform for learning, inspiration, empowerment and collaboration?
art.
The performance artist and curator Nefeli Oikonomou (Greece/Sweden) is organizing an international performance festival at Weld performance centre on the topic of weaving between 3 – 11 September, 2022. Weld is a well – known platform for performing arts in Sweden and we will be very happy to invite our Turkish colleagues to create a joint program together.
Art by Belarusian female artists.
art.
Art by Belarusian female artists.
art.