In 2023, most of my work was designing, coordinating and curating the international project "Post Truth? Countering Disinformation Narratives", this project was incredibly challenging taking me to Ukraine, Poland, Germany and France but at the same time so rewarding. My artistic practice is completely based on research and during this time I managed to get immersed in a topic that became a whole in itself, from concept to practice, from global to local, post truth is actually embodied by all, it is a challenging and complex topic of the area we are living, we face misinformation and fake narratives every day and this is shaping opinions, understandings and decisions globally. Having been in Ukraine and literally being bombed nearby while running the residency, changes many perspectives, as from start bonds between all the artists involved became very important for this collaborative project. This is the most important from every singe socially engaged art project, every artistic collaboration I do but in this project became something else, became to be 8 days of thinking, caring, reflecting, exploring, creating but together. Each residency and exhibition was a whole logistic challenge but meanwhile inspiration, synchronicity and collaboration really took place. The legacy of this project is the little (big) network created by intertwined artistic practices that went deep into the topic of post truth and from where we managed to create, thank you to all the artists involved in this project, I am very pleased to have learnt from each of you. Also to all organisers, collaborators, helpers, visitors, thank you. Here you can see the final results: All the process here with information, photos and more: www.posttruthproject.net The online publication about the final exhibition in Berlin Germany: https://online.fliphtml5.com/pyenz/vukf/ The films made about each collective process in Ukraine, Poland and Germany: #posttruthproject
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Recently I was very pleased to facilitate the Study visit of the project Inter(relation) path. INTER(RELATION) PATH is an international project focusing on artistic research as a tool for creating an inclusive society. This exchange explores the topic of migration as a means of creation to promote social inclusion and intercultural dialogue. The three selected artists from an international call are Noelia A. Ferreira (Spain), Kamil Druk (Poland) and Jannik Trapp (Germany). The Study Visit organised by Lernlabor took place from 28th of February to 2nd of March in Berlin. During this time, we focused on learning about the topic of migration from embodied experiences we all have to conceptual geopolitical reflections. We began learning from all participants both artists and organisers mapping connections between us and migration. Thanks to Mohamad from Refugee Voices Tour, we had a simulation workshop imagining a hypothetical future Europe where it sees the rise of radical political parties in most of Europe. As well, we had a day visiting exhibitions connected to the topic where we learnt from local context to international perspectives created by migrant communities. This included the exhibition “We call it Revolution. Transnational Activism in Berlin” at the FHXB Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg Museum, “Between Bridges” by the Kyiv Perennial program part of the 5th Kyiv Biennial, the Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation and the opening exhibition “Echoes of the Brother Countries” at Haus der Kulturen der Welt. This ground for collective reflection is the first stage of this project which will continue with a residency in Spain and a final exhibition in Poland. INTER(RELATION) PATH is carried out by the lead organisation: Creando por Soria (Spain) with partners: Lernlabor(Germany) and Logos (Poland). Photos: Cristina Ortega Blanco and Seila Fdz Arconada Earlier in January, I was incredibly pleased to have to opportunity to run the winter collective space “Seeds in the Snow: Winter Artistic Collaborations for a Shared Future” in Nigüelas (Granada, Spain). From the years of research I designed this conceptual experiencial experience as this project was created to cultivate togetherness through artistic explorations in Nature as a gesture of stewardship for a shared future. I had the privilege to invite the experts to participate in this collective journey as well as leading this pathway which gave me a lot of new learning and hope.
Here some more information of what “Seeds in the Snow: Winter Artistic Collaborations for a Shared Future” was about: ¨During five-days artists, scientists, youth workers and civil society activists explored the tangled threads of the ecosocial crisis through collective learning inspired by socially engaged art practices. Through hands-on transdisciplinary methods, reflective dialogues and shared rural experiences, we look for artistic “natural” connections between different kinds of knowledge while experiencing togetherness. During the time together we explored the uncertainties of the contemporary landscapes reflecting on the uncertain times we are living while rethinking about sustainability, climate change, collaboration and Nature among others. From the led presentations and discussions, to activities in the mountains and the local science museum (Parque de las Ciencias de Andalucía) while having local experts like Félix Picazo who shared with us a great lesson about ecology by collaborating with Nature. Also, these five days allowed an immersive (co)habiting experience as we lived together at the Molino while all the exchanged was taking place (listening, talking, drawing, hiking, reading, playing, watching, laughing, thinking, creating… and loads more). As result, all participants created projects in collaboration to take further ideas and experiment on methodologies for all to experience. In addition, the process became an outcome collected in an “experimental tool guide”, a collective book created out of this project, soon will be published online! This space was created by Seila Fernández Arconada together with Lernlabor team and the special professional guests as seeds in the snow, participating in this artistic endeavour together. Thanks to all who made such special project possible in particular to the 15 participant experts invited: Mireia Bes Alessandro Rolandi Konstantin Mercks Annalisa Zegna Eduardo Cassina Juri Kussmaul Nataliia Dovga Maribel Vasconcelos Emmanuela Korki Olga Lucía Hernández Veronica Boggio Camilla Cardi Zuzanna Smigielska Tina Backhouse Adrianna Gajdziszewskka This project was organised by Lernlabor and co-funded by the European Union.¨ I am very pleased to share the new project coming up for March which I am leading together with Lernlabor. This call for participants is for an international trainning course taht will be taking place in Germany in March 2024. Feel free to apply or share the call with whom might be interested! OPEN CALL We are looking for participants from Germany, Spain, Greece, Italy, and Poland for the Training course (15-24.03.24) "Harvesting Hope: Artistic Alchemy and Collective Care for Eco-Social Renewal" in Germany. This workshop focuses on the dynamic intersection of Art, Alchemy, and collective Care, drawing inspiration from ancestral and alternative practices while envisioning future scenarios of eco-social renewal. Through hands-on collaborative artistic methods, we will explore and interact with Nature, reflecting on the ongoing eco-social crisis to propose new questions and explore other forms of engagement in connection to topics like sustainability, climate change, extractivism, and uncertainty. Participants will have the opportunity to explore these topics while actively participate in the alchemical process of artistic creation. This involves transforming individual narratives into collective creations that embody hope and renewal. Led by Seila Fernández Arconada, an experienced multidisciplinary artist and researcher with international expertise in participatory and collaborative transdisciplinary projects. The workshop is designed as a hybrid format, blending elements of a training course and an experimental laboratory taking place over a 10-day training program from March 15th to 24th, 2024, in the unique setting of Lutter am Barrengerge, Germany. Deadline for application 24 of January 2024 The application form: https://forms.gle/5kZyAwR9E5hgZGkM8 For more information, feel free to contact me: [email protected] or to: [email protected] During the last months, I have been participating in the Diploma on “Women, Violence, Armed Conflict, and Peacebuilding” by LolaMora Producciones in the frame of the Instituto de Estudios sobre Conflictos y Acción Humanitaria (IECAH) “Institute of Studies on Conflicts and Humanitarian Action”.
This course was very profound for me, opening up a world of knowledge and critical thinking about the strategies women have developed to survive and resist violence in conflict zones around the globe. It was such meaningful space to learn about the specific challenges women face locally intertwined with global issues and the ways in which women are working to build more just and equitable societies. I have been working upon such topics and intersections between gender, conflict and peacebuilding, however this space gave me tools to articulate better to learn from other contexts and historical events that impacted women lives across the globe, and more specifically in the two case studies that were visited, Colombia and Congo. I am very thankful about this opportunity and after the attended sessions and the many extra hours of learning in reading materials as well as course works, etc. Here there course completion certificate: "Seeds in the Snow: Winter Artistic Collaborations for a Shared Future" represents the beginning of 2024, it is a new space and collective methodology I am crafting with care. I am very excited to have such opportunity to share with other artists and scientists which I will be facilitating as artistic director of the German organisation Lernlabor.
In this program we have invited professional artists and scientists to explore the tangled threads of the ecosocial crisis through collective learning during a five days cohabiting experience in rural Granada, from the 18th to the 24th of January 2024. This collective space will focus on Nature through hands-on transdisciplinary methods, reflective dialogues and shared rural experiences. We will look for artistic “natural” connections between different kinds of knowledge, collective actions using artistic methods to look for other questions, other forms of engagement, vital in these uncertain times we are living. I would like to invite you to the collective exhibition and final presentation of "Post Truth? Countering Disinformation Narratives" in Berlin that will take place on the 12, 13th and 14th of December 2023. I have been working intensively leading this project during this year as Art Director of Lernlabor, in the role of coordination, content leader and curator.
This international project has taken place during this year with a number of collaborative art residencies, exhibitions and workshops in Ukraine, Poland, Germany and France. Together we engaged with challenges of the post-truth era focusing on the growing problem of disinformation and fake news and how it could be countered through critical thinking, media literacy and other artistic strategies. We are very pleased to share some of the artworks done by the remarkable and talented artists who took part in this process and keep the discussion with whom would like to join in the program activities. The collective exhibition contains some of the created artistic expressions but also documentation about the process and information about the artworks created and artists involved. OPEN PROGRAM, ALL WELCOME! 12th from 19.00 Vernissage 13th, 14th from 16.00 to 21.00 Opening hours 14th at 19.00 Closing event & performance Location of the event: Kunstleben Kreuzberg Gneisenaustraße 19, 10961 Berlin Also you can join a tour guide activities of the exhibition, options are the following: 13th Wednesday at 18:00 14th Thursday two options: 11:00 and 18:00 ****Tour guide is a small group activity, please register here: https://forms.gle/NkPsnrnw3v4dRAuU7 More information: www.postruthproject.net #posttruthproject This project has been initiated by Lernlabor and its civil society partners in Ukraine, Poland and France. The process has been guided and curated by Seila Fernández Arconada. This project is financed by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany in the framework of its Civil Society Cooperation programme. On Thursday I will be in conversation with Lidia Gil, an event part of the series of talks "Los artistas cuentan", where artists share about their artistic processes. This will be taking place in Centro Cultural Doctor Madrazo, Santander (Cantabria, Spain). Free entrance, open to all.
More information in the following link: www.elfaradio.com/2023/11/06/sheila-fernandez-clausura-el-ciclo-los-artistas-cuentan/ "Sailing Through Liquid Realities" Seila Fernández Arconada "The liquid realities of the city go beyond what we see. The unknown also exists. Water is going through an ecosocial crisis that reveals its vital existence and fragility. In this collective drift, we will focus our senses on hydrological changes and transformations as we navigate through the city, exploring the hidden aspects that manifest themselves through the temporality of tides, connecting us with the land, the sea, and the cosmos. This artistic process is embedded within us to lead us to questions such as: What memories will the future water flows we inhabit carry?" Santander, Cantabria (Spain)
This project is in the frame of "De las calles un museo" Organised by DidacArt financed by Fundación Santander Creativa. I am very pleased to share that on the 28th of October at 10:00am (Colombian time), we will be presenting the collective fanzine "En las Desembocaduras" (In the Estuaries) We will engage in a conversation with an interdisciplinary group of researchers, artists, and environmental activists who, as a result of a series of collective creative processes, created a collection of fanzines titled "En las desembocaduras." Through various collaborations, including texts, watercolors, photography, drawings, and poems, we will address the question of what grievances are generated by various forms of extractivism in different territories. We will focus on the interdisciplinary and transnational dialogues that made this collective project possible, as well as the specific cases of extractivism that these fanzines address in the Atrato and Magdalena rivers in Colombia, mining in Mexico, Germany, and Colombia, the Besaya River in Spain, and the Córdoba Wetland in Bogotá. We will also inquire about which communities are affected by these extractive practices and what we understand by the term "community." About the collaborators: In September 2022, a group of activists, artists, researchers, and educators from Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany gathered in Kassel to reflect on the grievances of extractivism, with a focus on Colombia. This took place within the framework of a summer school with speakers invited by the University of Kassel, Más arte más acción (MAMA), and the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), in the context of contemporary art exhibitions at Documenta Fifteen. The collection of fanzines received support from Más arte más acción, Documenta Institut, and CAPAZ (Colombian-German Institute for Peace). The collaborators who participated in the fanzine were Ara Goudsmit, M. Jose Ortiz, Chiari De Marchis Garofalo, Rossana Alarcón, Pedro Jiménez Herrera, Samuel Sarmiento, Gabriela Aquije Zegarra, Andrés Tafur Villareal, Maribel Rivasvas Concelos, Nohora Alejandra Quiguantar, Sabrina Herrmann, Seila Fernández Arconada, Claudia Howald, Elizabeth Gallón Droste, Pablo Torres, Ana Álvarez Prendes, Elena Blesa, Carolina Sánchez, and Diego Lagos. The event will be in Zoom via this link, event will be in spanish: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/94354824456?pwd=eUQrNk44RFJwZFBxSmdlRFZ3eVg1UT09 ID de reunión: 943 5482 4456 Código de acceso: 564013 More information about the Humanidades Ambientales collective, host of the event:
www.humanidadesambientales.com/cafe/28-desembocaduras Gracias, por la oportunidad de compartir este bonito trabajo colectivo. |
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