Memories of timetravelling

Exploring

"Gentrification, Arts, and Cultural Heritage" at the Sixth Annual International Gathering of Artists in Fez, Morocco

Ann Schomburg: Performance Lecture - Memories of Time Travelling

Introduction: Every life story is a unique carpet woven with experiences and memories that shape our identities. This performance lecture will explore the interplay between gentrification, art, and cultural heritage via personal narratives. Embarking on a journey through selected artworks and experiences, we will delve deeper into the themes of change, memory, and preserving creative spaces. The lecture vibe will consider creative spaces equal to physical and mental places.

By taking a closer look into personal experiences and artistic expression, this performance lecture focuses on mainly three works: Void Time, Celebrating Time, and The Idling Mobile. The lecture aims to open a space for reflection, dialogue, and collective understanding. Through our discussions, I hope to share experiences of the challenges we all face in preserving our creative environments and contribute to the ongoing conversation about the impacts of urban transformation.

Focus of the Talk:

The Ausstellungsexhibition (exhibition installation) void time, was selected by Sophia Gräfe and  Arkadij Koscheew to be shown at their exhibition “On Equal Terms” during the Art Week 2022 in the Uferhallen Berlin wedding. 54 artists were creating a collective memory out of the fragile moment of discovering a creation that felt like an art piece for the very first time.

 

Void Time, Installation,Uferhallen, Berlin 2022

The exhibition and the place that invited this installation were loaded with history:
Indeed, the Uferhallen in Berlin's Wedding district has become a focal point in the ongoing gentrification debate. Artists who have long occupied their studios within the Uferhallen are now facing the challenge of preserving their creative spaces against the pressure from investors and potential development projects. This clash embodies a more significant issue of cultural displacement as these artists strive to maintain the unique character and vibrancy of the area against the encroachment of commercial interests. The struggle highlights the tension between the preservation of artistic and cultural heritage and the forces driving urban transformation and increased property values. But this is the story of the artist collectively fighting there.

"Celebrating Time “, a performance/happening inside the installation void time. A piece that takes us on a journey back to the era of Berlin house parties. A nostalgic reflection on the past, this piece invokes memories of open parties and communal experiences that defined an era. It encapsulates a sense of freedom and exploration, sometimes escapism. Yet, this reflection is tinged with the realization that these moments have transformed due to gentrification's relentless march. Reshaping the urban landscape and how people interact with their time, places, and strangers, especially considering the growing financial pressure to live and surrender.

 

The Idling Mobile, lecture Kitchentalks, Städl Schule Frankfurt2015

 

Furthering the exploration, we encounter the concept of the idling mobile, a self-organized artist residency. Here, personal experiences intertwine with the overarching theme of gentrification and cultural heritage preservation. This residency serves as a testament to the resilience of artists against the backdrop of urban change. Through the idling mobile, artists reclaim agency over their spaces, echoing the sentiment of resistance that runs through the struggle against gentrification.

Ultimately, these narratives illustrate the profound interplay between individual creativity, urban transformation, and cultural heritage. By sharing these experiences, we aim to foster a nuanced understanding of artists' challenges in preserving their creative sanctuaries within the currents of gentrification. These stories collectively contribute to the ongoing dialogue concerning preserving artistic and cultural diversity in the face of urban metamorphosis.

BACKGROUND:

The 6th Annual International Artists Gathering of Fez Explores “Gentrification, Arts, and Cultural Heritage”

Dates: 5-8 October 2023

The renowned Annual International Gathering of Artists returns to Fez, Morocco for its sixth edition with a powerful theme: "Gentrification, Arts, and Cultural Heritage.” Hosted by the Fez Gathering, this dynamic event brings together Moroccan and global artists, featuring a range of exhibitions, panel discussions, workshops, and live demonstrations. The event serves as a unique platform, allowing the local artistic community of Fez to present their work to a broader international audience.

This year, the Fez Gathering delves into the role of art in addressing the pressing challenges of gentrification. Attendees can expect a rich tapestry of art installations, performances, and activities, all spotlighting the transformative potential of art and culture in urban spaces. The discussions will also tackle the balance of rejuvenating urban areas without sidelining the communities often linked with gentrification. In doing so, the event aspires to foster intergenerational dialogues, spotlight the contemporary Moroccan art scene, and amplify emerging Moroccan artists, all against the backdrop of Fez—a city that has historically been a bridge between diverse worlds.

Beyond the aesthetics, the Fez Gathering will ignite discussions around the role of arts beyond its intrinsic value. The debate will encompass the interplay between arts, cultural heritage, market forces, and religious dynamics, aiming to understand how art can pave the way for a hopeful future.

The Fez Gathering was conceived in 2015 by Omar Chennafi, a Fez native and notable Moroccan artist and photographer. The ethos of each Gathering is to bolster dialogue and deeper engagement within the arts. This year's participants will be immersed in insightful workshops and discussions centered on the “Gentrification and Cultural Heritage” narrative.
In alignment with the festival's spirit, entry is complimentary for all, and post-event feedback from attendees is highly encouraged. The four-day event will be widely covered across social media platforms, featuring artist interviews and participant interactions.

This stellar event is made possible through collaborations with partners such as The Goethe Institute in Rabat, Institut Français in Fez, American Language Center of Fez, Noujoum Center, The Fes Medina Project, Kan Ya Makan Center, among others.

http://www.fezgathering.com

Bring in Weight Maribor

Lecture Journey with Bring in Weight, last Performance lecture before the Locdown:

warm up for the lecture 

Projektsite:

Project Bring in Weight

PODCASTing

Talk: Ann Schomburg. @@@ You are Dynamite

This is our 5th late night installment of I AM DYNAMITE! - a show that brings the strongest voices of change and positive empowerment to the stage. This month we tackle 
VOTING - DOES YOUR VOTE MATTER? 
ARE WE A DEMOCRACY? What is happening around the world?

Our public speakerss will give you their raw, honest, funny and sometimes tragic art - for your entertainment! 

LINE UP:
Faye Goldsmith (GREAT BRITAIN) is an academic, food blogger and activist who has a focus on refugee and feminist issues. She's setting up a project to tackle sexual violence in Berlin. 

Richard Garbutt (GREAT BRITAIN) is a technologist, writer and comdian. He's currently trying to overturn Brexit one poem at a time and invent an ethical version of Facebook.

Fridey Mickel (USA) is a writer who has been fascinated with political ethics since the age of nine. At 20, she supported UN diplomats in setting up and running various NGOs and political campaigns. With her „Context is Half the Work“ column at the TAZ, she uses interviews with celebrities and other personalities to examine everyday ethics and the moral dance between personal intuition and status quo.

Ann Schomburg (GERMANY) is a Berlin-based artist whose origins started in parliamentary politics, but she decided to switch her career to fine arts, to formulate observations of society in an artistic expression using the real life experience. She uses her own person as an example of real life, where art and life are in a symbiotic relationship. The consistent comparison of the various reactions to the “reality performance” and her art are a relevant focus of research. Schomburg’s interest is to undermine ways using a very own system of logic to reinterpret settled systems.

Rachman Blake (USA) is a New York City storyteller, filmmaker, and world traveler. He's performed in five languages, 15 countries, and at comedy festivals all over the globe. Watch bite-sized behind the scenes films of Rachman's journey on Facebook or Instagram. Http://www.facebook.com/rachmanblakelive Http://Instagram.com/rachmanblake

Hosted By Mollis Molloy (New Finland)

https://freudianslipclub.wordpress.com/

19. - 21.01.2016 Seminar: Ann Schomburg & Sascha Boldt Team up!

Apply @ BerlinArtInstitute

http://berlinartinstitute.com/seminar-team-up-by-ann-schomburg-and-sascha-boldt/

(scroll down for english)

Team Up!

Team oder Einzelkämpfer?-Welche Wahrnehmung dominiert das zeitgenössische KünstlerInnenbild. In dem folgenden Seminar werden Ann Schomburg und Sascha Boldt ihren künstlerischen Werdegang bis hin zur werkbezogenen Zusammenführung als Ausgangspunkt für aktuelle Projekte aufzeigen. Schomburgs Ursprünge liegen in performativer Medienkunst (Studium Kassel). Sie trifft auf Sascha Boldt (Studium Düsseldorf) der sich ursprünglich mit konzeptioneller Malerei beschäftigte. Seit 2014 arbeiten sie eng an konzeptionel ästhetischen Reflexionsobjekten und hybriden Performance Räumen.

Die “Idling Gallery” ist ein von Ann Schomburg initiierter und gemeinsam mit Sascha Boldt realisierter Projektraum der aktuell in der Scharnweberstrasse in Berlin Friedrichshain angesiedelt ist. Sie steht in Verbindung zum „Idling Mobile“, einem mobilen Artist-in-Residency-Programm, das sich mit der Begrifflichkeit des Idling, des Lee(h)rlaufs, auf konzeptuelle Weise beschäftigt.

The Idling Gallery: Mal wieder Freitag der 13. from societyTrash on Vimeo.

Dabei handelt es sich um die Umsetzung eines kreativen Leerlaufs; um einen Ort, der die Möglichkeit bietet, Kunstwerke entstehen, das Unterbewusstsein als tatsächliche Quelle künstlerischer Produktion arbeiten zu lassen. Im Zentrum der Projekte steht das Authentische, daß eine Idee ausmacht, nicht die High-Gloss-Appearance,

die der Kunstmarkt augenscheinlich fordert. Im Rahmen der mobilen Residenz werden Projekte unterschiedlicher KünstlerInnen realisiert, bei denen die Vorraussetzungen im Umfeld des Caravans und die Eigenständigkeit der künstlerischen Produktion kongenial verschmelzen. Das Projektraumkonzept zur Idling Gallery ist eine Mischform zwischen Popupgalerie, die auf Tour geht, und der Homebase-Galerie an ihrer permanenten Location in Berlin.

Die Idling Gallery ist ein Netzwerkraum für Kunst und deren MacherInnen, die Ästhetik und Inhalt in untrennbarer Symbiose verstehen. Dabei stehen ProjektmacherInnen im Fokus, die kompromisslos ihrer künstlerischen Vision folgen und im Zuge dessen ihr künstlerisches Anliegen vor Karriere-Etikette stellen. Dementsprechend ist das Profil der Galerie medienübergreifend angelegt. Entscheidend ist der inhaltliche Nenner zwischen den Positionen und dem Bestreben, Werke in verschiedenen Medien zu realisieren. Videokunst im Dialog mit Malerei, New Media begegnet „Klassischer Skulptur“. Es geht darum, dass der jeweilige Inhalt sein entsprechendes Medium findet und etablierte KünstlerInnen auf Emerging Artists treffen.

Schomburg und Boldt zeigen wie sie mit neuen und alten KollegInnen innerhalb ihres Netzwerkes gemeinsame Ausstellungen entwickelt haben. Gemeinsam werden bestehende Erfahrungen diskutiert und potentielle Möglichkeiten für Ausstellungsprojekte der TeilnehmerInnen erschlossen. Wo kommen sie her Welche Netzwerkmöglichkeiten oder Orte gibt es und werden vielleicht übersehen? Wie kann man bestehende Kontakte Nutzen?



In einem fließenden Übergang zwischen Theorie und Praxis werden die Arbeiten der TeilnehmerInnen gemeinsam besprochen und inhaltliche und ästhetische Parallelen gezogen. Ist es möglich daraus ein Ausstellungskonzept zu entwickeln? Wie weit sind bestehende Netzwerke nützlich um die Ausstellung umzusetzen und Aufmerksamkeit zu erzeugen.

Ann Schomburg Foto Kati Liebert

Ann Schomburg *1984 lebt und arbeitet in Berlin und Frankfurt am Main. Schomburg's Werk setzt sich mit der Faszination für das Spiel mit Unterwanderdungsstrategien des vermeintlich 'Normalen' auf Grundlage neuinterpretierter Spielregeln auseinander.

Sascha Boldt Foto: Ann Schomburg

Sascha Boldt *197X in Bremen, lebt und arbeitet in Berlin und Frankfurt am Main. Boldts Arbeiten gehen von zwei und dreidimensionalen Collagen aus, die sich inhaltlich mit der Konstruktion von Realität auseinandersetzen. Er selbst begreift sich als ein Hybrid der sich spielerisch analytisch- situativ mit Systemen und Ästhetiken auseinandersetzt. 

preopening Berlin Friedrichshain: Helloween

Team up

The view on the artist figure is historically changing. The Seminar will be based on a discussion about contemporary strategies of surving the art machinery. The artist as a lone or as a team player - how does the artistic practice change taking a step back to reach out for an overview?

Ann Schomburg and Sascha Boldt will show their artistic development as a sample towards a colletive work coming from very different starting points: Schomburg studied mediart/performances in Kassel, a school focused on a very critical view on the art market while Boldt studied painting in Düsseldorf in the classes of Markus Lüpertz and Albert Oehlen. Since 2014 the collaboration creates hybrid performances and conceptional objects based on an argument and reflections about contemporary aesthetics and social developments.

The Idling Gallery was an initiative by Ann Schomburg realised with Sascha Boldt. The space is a mixture between a pop-up gallery and a project-space with a fixed home base. Connected to the „Idling Concept“ the gallery is within an idling sleep and awakes for content based exhibitions as a platform for emerging and established artists to enter a dialog. The profile is interdisciplinary focusing on positions refusing to compromise within their artistic practice.

Schomburg and Boldt present strategies how they used their network of collegians to organise exhibitions throughout Europe.

Sliding from discussing into action the concrete works of the participants will be discussed and the opportunity for a group show will be reviewed. Within this presentation the group will discuss experiences and potential exhibition opportunities for the participants. Where is everybody coming from, which opportunities are already there, undiscovered? How to use contacts without exploiting them too much?

Sascha Boldt & Ann Schombug Foto Kati Liebert

Ann Schomburg *1984 lives and works in Berlin and Frankfurt am Main. Schomburg is working on strategies of infiltration to given structures. Her latest project “The Idling Mobile” is a hybrid object: A sculpture which transforms into an artist in residency program, inviting artists into exhibitions and residencies she was invited to as part of the artwork.

Sascha Boldt *197X lives and works in Berlin and Frankfurt am Main. Boldts work ranges from 2 to 3 dimensional collages that deal with the construction and architecture of reality. He sees himself as a Hybrid playing analytically and situationally with systems and their specific aesthetics.

Lecture: Life imitates Art, the artist as a half solidarity lone

photo: BAI

Ann Schomburg: Life imitates Art,  the artist as a half solidarity lone

How to be a player, if you do not know the roules in a game that do not exist, oficially? Schomburgs interest is focused on understanding roules of established systhems and playing them in her very own way. With her moving sculpture 'the idling mobile' Schomburg created an ongoing sculpture based on a VW caravan, which turns into an artist in residency program.

The transformative object „Idling Mobile“, is an installation, a sculpture and a mobile artist in residency programm. During events and residency Schomburg is invide tod the“Idlng Mobile“ opens the doors and invites the visitors to engage into conversations and special moments. Situations and performances happen within the space. Visitors are requested to share their personal statements and opinions towards art,life and the vivid interaction between both of the fields. Meanwhile an other artist is invited for a residency as a part of the sculpture.

Ann Schomburg is giving an introduction into her work based on the fascination of the absurd normal routine of the everyday and a passion for multinational meanings and uses.

kitchentalks Städl Schule Frankfurt am Main

Saarbrücken: warm up for strasbourg

Zufallskulptur mit video

idling mobile Object outcome

preparing Flaut M. Rauch for the residency

Idling mobile Invitation @kitchentalks @ städelschule Frankfurt

The Idling Mobile (2014–2020)

Materialangabe: Wohnmobil, Performance

Material: camping car, performance

 

Das Projekt »The Idling Mobile« ist mal eine bewegliche Skulptur, mal ein Selbstportrait oder ein Artist in Residence-Programm. Unter der Idee des Idlings, z Dt. Leerlaufs, schält das Wohnmobil das Privat- und Kunstleben Schomburgs für die Dauer einer Reise aus der Drucksituation einer nur als neoliberal zu bezeichnenden Lebensweise heraus. Und mehr noch, »The Idling Mobile« stellt eine unmittelbare Umsetzung solidarischen Handelns dar. Wird Schomburg zu einer Residency eingeladen, vergibt sie mit den Ressourcen des Stipendiums selbst eine Residency an weitere Künstlerinnen und Künstler und entlässt das Wohnmobil an einen selbstgewählten Ort. Der fahrbare Kunstraum schafft einen Moment des Innehaltens genau für jene, die im Kampf für Utopien zur Überwindung von ungesunden und unsolidarischen Lebensstrukturen zumeist selbst nicht mehr zur Entschleunigung fähig sind. In actu entstehen dabei neue Kunstwerke. Zum Beispiel mutierte ein geplatzter Reifen, der beinahe einen fatalen Unfall verursacht hatte, zum Bildrahmen eines Videos, welches ein experimentelles Roadmovie der Reise zeigt.

 

 

 

Liste der bisherigen Artist Residencies:

List of previous artist residencies

 

Sweta Anatova (2014)

Minor Alexander ( 2014)

Sascha Boldt (2015)

Linda Knob (2014)

Kati Liebert (2014)

Philip Metz (2015)

Lena Reisner (2017)

Steffi Simmen (2019)

Stories for food Project (2018)

 

The project "The Idling Mobile" is sometimescan come along as a mobile sculpture, sometimes a self-portrait or an artist in residence program. Under the idea concept of the idling, the motorhome purges extracts Schomburg's private and artistic lifepersona out of a pressured, neoliberal way of life  for the duration of a journey out of the print situation of a way of life that can only be described as neoliberal. And what's more importantly, "The Idling Mobile" represents an immediate implementation of solidarity. If Schomburg is invited to a residency, she will use the resources of the scholarship to grant a residency to other artists and release leaves the motorhome to at a location of her choice. The mobile art space creates an opportunity to stop and pause moment of pause for thought for precisely those who, in the are no longer capable of deceleration while they struggle for utopias to overcome unhealthy and unsolidaristic life structures., are usually no longer capable of decelerating themselves. New works of art are created in actu. For example, a burst tire that had almost caused a fatal accident mutated was transformed into the a picture frame of for a video showing the journey as an experimental road movie. of the journey.