New Work!

I really wanted to share this work with everyone. Its a work I just showed at the just concluded NAC program.

More work in progress and look forward to sharing soon.

title: I am not my hair

Fibre glass, metal and newspaper

Variable dimesion

2013

(C) taiye idahor

Sweet Sweet Hallein!!- Summer International Art academy

Alte Saline Hallein

My programme at the summer academy was great and indeed proved to be an enriching 3 weeks experience. I applied for Christoph Draeger's class themed SIMSALABOOM! BEFORE YOU LEARN TO FLY, LEARN HOW TO FALL which took place from 12.08.2013 – 31.08.2013.

It was a very free class and experimentation was encouraged and I was more than happy to put myself into it. I was particularly happier about the mix of people we had in our class unlike other groups, I felt ours seemed more versatile and so did the final projects. And I learned a great deal from my colleagues in the class they were wonderful (and sometimes weird, aren't we all).

moi ( it was really cold in there, no insulation but a truly amazing space but sadly I was among the last set of artists who would use this space as the academy moves fully to its other venue in Salzburg pls click here for more info on this incredible landmark)

Since I started working professionally in 2010 I have been experimenting materials and gradually I'm trying to embrace newspaper as a primary material but not leaving other objects and materials out completely. I actually thought about doing a newspaper sculpture larger than lifesize but like most art works I make, it never grew to that point, the forms and texture of the foams overwhelmed my thinking so i gave in.  

I have been weaving lots of paper recently and just before I left for Austria, the idea of using the "image" came to me, because of my supposed problem of not getting enough newspaper woven for my work as weaving myself takes a lot of time. (I have tried to get help with it, but nobody seems to able to do it as i want) so I photographed the weaves and even some film cartridges, printed them and I ventured out to Austria hoping that I would make out time to try out this idea of using the image rather than the weave itself. It is an interesting topic, this concept of juxtaposing reality with imagination but an imagination that is built from what is real which brings one back to what is or should be real and what isn't? does that make sense?? Ok I think I should talk about this in a fresh post as I wanted this post to be about my residency so back to the academy... so here are two works from the several I made and am already in the process of building on them since I got back. My new series is called ... drums rollll..."mixed race" series. Title is not all high tech-ish and sophisticated I know but I like it and it expresses in plain words what the project is about already.

 untitled mixed race sereies
we had all these old books given to us at our disposal for use as we pleased since it was a collage class so the canyon image behind is from one of those books.

untitled mixed race series

these were from the images i printed from Lagos, pictures of my newspaper weaves

Aside my Lagos project creating collages with images, with the same experimentation mode, I began deliberating materials by trying them out with much thought to my final project, and finally I decided Styrofoam would be the way to go. I didn't give much thought to the concept at the beginning but after daily exposure to the work, as the objects in question grew into forms, it told me a tale not too far from reality of man's addiction to the material world and how we have become like robots led by technology, a machine who has gained control of the living race. Its funny how free we think we are especially in this time of the internet and free information but yet can't do without our devices ( raise you hand if you can do without your phone or any other electronic device for one day, uhmmmm).

Loved riding down to the junk yard to collect the foams

Overall the whole program for me was focused less on critical thinking but more at trying new materials and new ways to work, since I have unconsciously worked on the path of identity over the past few years, I was interested in finding new ways to express my thoughts and ideas through the "object". Hence a new project has begun and I can't wait to share it, but one thing is for sure it contains lots of weaves.

My trip was based on a collaboration between CCA,lagos and the Summer Academy so a big thank you to these two very important art institutions.

Pics from my final project.

                     Work in progress

On the open day with my work

At different times of the day, the light from the window above played with the work so it was great seeing the work in different ways but on the same day and position.

I also visited some interesting spots in Salzburg and Linz but I will do a separate post on that, I think this is long enough for one read. Thanks for reading.

GUILTY AS CHARGED!!!! BUT I'M BACK

So much has happened between my last post and now, aside working with CCA,Lagos which has been a crazy ride rich with so many experiences, adventures and not to forget mistakes, I have also been quite occupied with other stuff.

I always want to write something but then I delay cos I’m always looking for the perfect words, just typical, I’m an artist, it has to be perfect, hence I never get to post anything so I’ve decided to just go with the flow and just put up images when I have no words, like for example my present project, I’m quite speechless.

So I’ll just run through a couple of things that’s happened in the past year in another post: “A year”??, I can’t believe I left my dear blog alone all this time. Anyways its great to be back.

One major thing that happened for me was that I moved out of my old studio, It was the perfect space but so many things were wrong I had to move, it was very sad. I have gotten a new studio space but it’s a lot smaller :( but its accessible for me, my materials and anyone who wants to visit unlike my former place.

Fast forward to August 2013-

So right now I’m in Salzburg Austria (home of the sounds of Music and I mean that literally not just as regards the movie, home of Mozart HELLO!! :SWEET) and its soooo beautiful here I must confess. My program starts today so I’m hoping to use this opportunity to get back to blogging and see if I can do a daily blog, as part of my project here. In my next blog I will describe what my plans are for my time here and lets see if I can fulfil it. More on the Summer Academy can be found here and I must say a huge THANK YOU to the two organisations CCA,Lagos and the International Summer Academy of Fine Arts who made it possible for me to be here and also to my wonderful host Aglae who let me stay at her home (She’s so nice).

I may not put so many images here but if you follow me on twitter you can see images, I wouldn't want to have any excuses not to blog cos its faster and easier to tweet images and maybe I should consider Instagram hmmm!! We'll see. 

xoxo

Tea/ Chai/茶

Tea/ Chai/茶

If there's anything I looked forward to the most during my trip to Japan, it definitely was the traditional tea drinking ceremony I always watched on tv and thankfully and very happily I finally had the opportunity to attend one, with our host making traditional green tea the traditional way, it was awesome!

It was so awesome that I had to title my final project chai which means tea in Japanese.

My stay in Yokohama was full of work, talking and more work!! Mari Ishiwata my host is a painter and it was amazing talking and sharing with her as an artist and just as a person.

There’s so much that happened that I don't even know where to begin but pictures say it best! Enjoy

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i and ii above- Mari and me

Thanks Akane, Kana and Mrs Ishiwata for all the great food!!

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iii & iv - PET bottles and their Labels. Very colorful!

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v & vi- Glueing the cut up labels to the board

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vii &viii- Koh and Akane helping out

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ix, x & xi - At work with my project on PET bottles. There were lots of plastic bottle wastes (properly disposed and recycled too, we went to grab them from people's trash bags in the freezing morning cold before the trucks came for them loll). I am always to attracted to waste objects that I can find in large numbers.

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 xii, xiii & xiv -My very first performance done with Mari Ishiwata based on the tea ceremony we went to watch days earlier and we decided to re create ours. For me I would say the performance was a reflection of how our society is gradually ( or rapidly in some cases) loosing old cultures, of which I have no problem with, its bound to happen anyway especially with the level of innovations we see and experience everyday, but none is documented therefore we are loosing our history and true essence. Old cultures are now transformed to align with modern life and trends. Tea says a lot!! Visitors who came to watch us also re enacted their own tea ceremonies. It was fun to watch.

It was a looonnnng day but fun!!!

Just a few of the many guests that visited the Ishiwata residence during my stay. Thanks all for coming, you guys made me feel like a star!!

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xv, xvi, xvii & xviii -Mari and I gave a talk about our experiences and work together on the opening of our exhibition at the "Hot Pot", Asahi-Ku, Yokohama, Japan. The show also moved to another venue Yokohama Creative City Centre, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Japan

The guests at the opening of our exhibition.

Mari and me

Koh and me

A big thank you to every one who made my stay a wonderful one. Thank you Akane, Kana, Mr Iwai Shigeaki, to all the wonderful people who made out time to visit us at the Ishiwata residence, Mari and Aya Ishiwata, Mr and Mrs Isiwata (they came everyday to visit us) and of course to Koh Kuroki, a BIG thank you for making all it happen.

Below is my statement on the work I created and the photographs from the previous blog.


Artist Statement

Before now when I think Japan, what goes through my mind is Kimonos, wooden chalets, tea and even samurais with swords. Everything mentioned have become ancient history except for tea which still plays a major role in Japanese life but it has evolved and the process altered with time.
That’s my stereotype on Japan, just as other people have stereotypes of Africa.
Stereotypes are man made creations and illusions hinted and propagated by images from the media so with staged images and pieces of pet bottles, labels and newspaper, I hope to reflect the staged and man made stereotypes that exist from place to place and time to time, the dissemination of culture and the illusion of beauty in this modern age, that is sought after daily in the lives of people here in Japan and quite a similar tale from back home in Nigeria.
This project examines broader issues of relationships between time and space, illusions and reality, legitimacy and authenticity as it relates to media reportage. 

My objective is to hopefully awaken the audience’s ethnographic scrutiny of contemporary life, and consumerism in modern times both in Africa and Japan.

For more on this project and the Homestay programme, please check out these links

http://artsite.yafjp.org/2012/project2012/2012-o, 

http://www.mariishiwata.com/?page_id=353, 

http://hoakyapt.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDuRmQ5u-y4&feature=youtu.be

My next blog will dance to the tune of UB40's Chery o chery o Limbe!! ( well baby actually)

Also you can now follow me on twitter my handle is @greenpaintbowl.

Yokohama Here I come Part 1- My First Lonnnnnnng Trip!

Mari and me!

Some time last year I was invited to Yokohama Japan to work with artist Mari Ishiwata on a Homestay (guest from Africa ) project by Koh Kuroki, an art director from Japan whom I had met in June of 2011 while he was visiting Nigeria.

For one, I’m really excited about this trip because before now Japan, more specifically Yokohama, is a place I always heard about and I dreamed of visiting someday but I couldn’t have imagined it was so soon!?! So I was really really excited.

When I think Japan I think, Kimonos, wooden chalets, tea and even samurais with swords. That’s my stereotype on Japan, and its farrrrr from  true( except for the tea part) now that I have seen things for myself.

Just arrived and heading to the Ishiwata's residence with Mari!

Right from the first sunrise (even though I slept till about 3pm of the next day) it was activities and visitors all the way. Two weeks is a short time to explore such a great place and at the same time create work but Mari and I are tried our very best.

Before my arrival Mari and I had been communicating by mails and Skype so we were able to create a rough plan of activities and the workshops we wanted to do, since we had a short time. Also on my part I tried to get acquainted with the waste objects that were available which I could use to create an art piece. 

Now Japan recycles a lot so there weren’t many options like I have here in Lagos (if you know what I mean!), so basically pet bottles had to be “it”(even though it is also recycled but it was the easiest thing to collect) because there was so many and in different shapes and sizes, there were also other objects Mari had gotten in the house that they didn’t need anymore which I could also use.

So we kicked off with the photography project we planned, and we had volunteers dress up for the shoot. Even though I have always done photography, this would be my very first time using my camera as a tool to create an art project, it was usually parties, portraits and documentaries so it was really good to be able to direct my art in this direction other than sculptures and mixed media.

This project was based on "stereotypes and identity" using Japanese and African fashion to explore the topic. It was really hilarious getting ready for this shoot.

hmmm!, left or right?

what to do, what to do?!

Here we were two young people clueless about traditional dressing, and struggling to get it right. On my part, I can’t tie a gele( headgear won by women here in Nigeria) I never wear one because I feel its very uncomfortable and its like carrying a burden on my head, but since I was taking some with me to Japan, and I didn’t want to disgrace myself and my dear Africa, I quickly took a crash course from my sister’s friend just a night before my trip. 

It was terrible, and very frustrating, my hands ached  but I settled for two formulas and hoped I would get it right when I got there, after all even if I got it wrong they won’t know the difference(wink *wink*).

As for Mari it was nothing far from my experience, she couldn’t tie a kimono the right way either, she kept reciting the formula with her lips while she tried to wear it. With that I didn’t feel bad about my lack of knowledge on “African”fashion, it was a really hilarious moment, and at that point I started to discover more about my self as a person, an African and as an artist and it was clear that our topic on stereotypes was ideal for this project.

Anyway at last we came to a compromise. In our confusion, we created a cross between iro and buba( traditional attire won by Yoruba women) and the kimono called…..(still on it) somewhat a reflection of our image as young people in this very modern age, from different ends of the planet but sharing many similarities that stem from the influence of technology, western fashion and this era we exist in at present.

hmm! how was it again? Who am I kidding, learn the art of gele tying in one night? yeah right!

Mari the make-up artist

We also adopted the makeup style(the white face and red lipstick) used by traditional geisha women of Japan, as a way of blurring the identity of our models. Then again I see this as a metaphor of how young people like myself and Mari have been stereotyped and the true reflection of who we really are as people and especially as artists has been shaded by what is expected rather than what is. The reality is, we are more alike than we are different, and the traditions and cultures from the past have faded, evolved or are completely lost to the modern society we live in now .

Mari's drawing as a backdrop in the photographs make the images seem surreal, almost like a fantasy (like the tale of Alice in wonderland) a tale that exist only in stories but it’s the reality that exist in today's world. A topic I have slowly started to explore with mannequins.

By the way, the title of our exhibition was titled "An Anonymous Tale".
The images represent illusions of surrealistic events but the objects they hold in their hands are the only real things in the images (each volunteer was asked to bring something they cherished and loved), while all other objects and clothings found in each image are not from their personal possessions. 

The real objects therefore act as channels of escape from this scene of illusions, the stereotyped world I live in today that has been created by people. 

A staged photograph someone called it, truth be told, it was but it is life, and especially in this time I exist where the idea of beauty and character is fake and it is hard to differentiate reality from illusion, and more and more we begin to adopt a staged life.

Some of our lovely guests and volunteers, thanks y'all

Long story short, at the end, the photo project was a success and it was a good start for other things that were to come and I had a great time.
I was really happy to see all these young people come over to see me, and chat with me and be a part of it even though we kinda had a little language problem but it was great still, after all there many other ways to communicate other than just speaking words. 

We got great pictures from the shoot and do find below the final selection which was showed at the closing exhibition. And I must say my geles weren't so bad after all! yehhhhh! A big thank you to Asarin, Wakwak, Naddy, Aya, Caroline, Yota, Chiharu, and Akane.

Join me in some tea drinking from Japan in the story to come, and there's still my P.E.T bottle project as well. Thanks for reading.

Lovely!