pARTage International Artists Workshop 2017 "Migration, Identity and Belonging"

Photos taken by Mat Li and Nilesh Boodhun

 The workshop has already begun; 17 international artists from different countries are working together at pARTage Mauritius to exchange and reflect on the theme: "Migration, Identity and Belonging".
 
These days pARtage has became an international hub full of creative insights and collective narratives based on participant experiences and interests. During these days we have been working in these aspects from conceptual approaches, our own backgrounds, experiences in relation to the context where we are, Mauritius.
 
Mauritius has a strong multicultural heritage based on migration. There are different colonial heritages including Dutch, French and British but also different religions which allow us to experience a context of diversity, important for us and for Mauritians. The feeling of tolerance and respect between cultures creates a notion of home that has so much to teach internationally; this is a personal view that is growing over time.
 
So far we have had some fields trips including Aappravasi Ghat , world heritage site (immigration depot where labour workforce from India arrived to the country) and Le Monde Brabant which highlights the historical significance of slavery and indenture (labour systems that shaped modern Mauritius) both important references in the history and cultural identity of Mauritius.
 
Critical thinking, creativity and curiosity are the main ingredients in this workshop, all participants share art as a form of expressing thoughts and feelings, however, we acknowledge the amount of definitions contemporary art has and the importance of learning from each other art perceptions (in relation to the political contexts where artist are based together with the strengths and weaknesses of the art system).
 
Presentations of each of the participant practices, discussions and practical work in the shared studio are part of the schedule of the workshop. The final outcome will be presented at the exhibition "Migration, Identity and Belonging" at the Institut Francais Mauritius in Rose Hill (Mauritius).

I would like to thank Gasworks London-Triangle Network for offering me the opportunity to undertake this workshop and residency at pARTage.

Workshop participants:

Yann Pocreau - CANADA, Zainou Elabidine Ali Mohamed (COMOROS), Dagrún Matthíasdóttir (ICELAND), Gunjan Tyagi (INDIA), Li Cho Hsien  Mathieu (MADAGASCAR), Deepa Bahadoor (MAURITIUS), Nirmala Luckeenarain (MAURITIUS),  Gerard Foy (MAURITIUS), Nirmal Hurry (MAURITIUS), Krishna Luchoomun (MAURITIUS), Sultana Haukim (MAURITIUS),, Pamela Sunnee (MAURITIUS), Jason Celine (MAURITIUS), Pravesh Gungah (MAURITIUS),  Alix  Le Juge (MAURITIUS), Vick Shibdoyal (MAURITIUS), Nalini Gopaul (MAURITIUS), Mala Ramyead (MAURITIUS), Muntasir Koodruth, (MAURITIUS), Jean Yves Lonfle (MAURITIUS), Reynald Alaguiry (REUNION/FRANCE), Kako (REUNION/FRANCE),  Allen Barreau (SEYCHELLES), Leonard Nigel Henri (SEYCHELLES), James Patrick Agricole (SEYCHELLES), Rude Robert Alexis (SEYCHELLES), Meghan Judge (SOUTH AFRICA), Clemens Sou (SOUTH KOREA), Sydney Kacele Siansangu (ZAMBIA), Seila Fernández Arconada (SPAIN/UK), Takura Tawandaphilemon (ZIMBABWE).