New Zealand artists to explore Asia opportunities
Seventeen New Zealand-based artists have been selected as recipients of the latest round of Asia New Zealand Foundation's Arts Practitioners Fund.
This fund supports New Zealand-based artists in undertaking residencies, work placements, research tours and exchanges across Asia.
The purpose of the Foundation’s arts programme is to bring Asia into the mainstream of New Zealand arts by inspiring New Zealand arts professionals to grow their connections and knowledge of the region. One way of achieving this is through the Arts Practitioners Fund.
“We are delighted to support this talented group of artists,” says Craig Cooper, director arts at the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono. “These experiences in Asia will undoubtedly enrich their artistic practice and contribute to the ongoing development of the arts in New Zealand.”
The selected artists will have the opportunity to delve into diverse Asian cultural contexts and engage with local artists. These immersive experiences hold the potential to broaden their creative horizons and encourage collaborations that could contribute to their ongoing production of meaningful and impactful artwork.
The Foundation’s recent research report, New Waves: Meeting the growing hunger for Asian art in Aotearoa, highlights the increasing interest among New Zealanders for Asian arts and cultural experiences.
The Arts Practitioners Fund addresses this growing demand by providing a platform for artists to engage with Asia on a deeper level. This programme fosters cultural exchange, artistic development and international collaboration, enriching both the artists and the artistic landscape of New Zealand.
Banner image: 2023 Arts Practitioners Fund recipient Daniel Belton and Good Company Arts
For more information, contact:
Graeme Acton
Manager, Asia Media Centre
Telephone: 64 4 471 2320
Email: gacton@asianz.org.nz
Find out about the funding recipients
This round awarded funding to 17 arts practitioners for projects exploring Asian arts and culture.
Cameron Curd (founder of Lexicon House Limited and arts, culture & heritage consultant) will explore immersive storytelling technologies at teamLab headquarters in Tokyo, with the intention of bringing this knowledge back to Te Unua Museum of Southland.
Dr. Chelsea Nichols (senior curator, The Dowse Art Museum) will attend key art biennales: Busan Biennale, Frieze Seoul and the Gwangju Biennale and meet with art figures in South Korea to strengthen The Dowse's international collaborations and exhibition programme.
Fiona Amundsen (photographer & filmmaker) will conduct research at the Institute of Contemporary Arts Kyoto, focusing on connections between aikido, anti-nuclear war activism, and the philosophy of the Kyoto School.
Ina Arraoui (visual artist) will visit printmaking and papermaking studios in Bali, Manila and Chiang Mai to explore collaboration opportunities and strengthen connections with the region's contemporary printmaking community.
Jesse Austin-Stewart (composer, sound artist, producer & academic) will attend the International Computer Music Conference in Seoul, aiming to develop new connections with artists specialising in accessibility within sound art.
Jessie McCall (dance artist) will undertake a two-month residency at Ne'-Na Contemporary Art Space in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to develop a new solo performance artwork and foster connections with local artists.
Kiran Dass (writer, critic & programme director of WORD Christchurch) will attend the Jaipur Literature Festival in India, scouting talent, developing relationships with festival directors and writers, and expanding her network in the Asian literary scene.
Melanie Oliver (curator, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū) will visit Tokyo, Yokohama, and Kyoto to reconnect with curators and artists, explore opportunities for future collaboration and further her understanding of the Japanese contemporary art scene.
Nathan Haines (jazz artist) will collaborate with Xinghai Conservatory musicians in China to record a new album that blends Chinese classical music and jazz improvisation. His previous performance at Xinghai Conservatory was well-received, and this project further solidifies his presence in China's music scene.
Ngaroma Riley (project coordinator, people connector & artist) plans to focus on expanding her network of female sculptors and strengthening connections between Ainu and Māori artists through collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Rachel Long (artist) will attend the Kawashima Textile School to learn the traditional Japanese weaving process, Kasuri, enriching her artistic practice and bringing Asian textile knowledge back to New Zealand.
Robin Greenberg (independent filmmaker) will travel to Kyoto with colleague Yoko Couling to build relationships with old shopkeepers in Kyoto for a proposed video project. This groundwork is crucial for the success of the project's production phase.
Sybille Schlumbom (printmaker) will participate in the International Mokuhanga Conference in Echizen, Japan, to learn about Japanese papermaking and contemporary mokuhanga techniques. This knowledge will be shared with the New Zealand art community.
Talia Pua (theatre-maker, performer & set designer) will spend two months at Papermoon Puppet Theatre Company in Indonesia, allowing her to develop a new play The Girl whose Twin was a Bird (Bird Bird), collaborate with local artists and bridge the gap between Aotearoa and Southeast Asia in the theatre scene.
Thomas Lord (lecturer in photography) has plans to reconnect with Japan's creative community through a photography residency, research visits and industry visits. He aims to share his experience and establish collaborations between Dunedin and Asian artists.
Tupe Lualua (founder/director of Le Moana and the Measina Festival) will participate in the APP Producers Camp in Malaysia to develop connections with arts professionals in Southeast Asia and explore pathways for touring New Zealand and Pacific works internationally.
Yee Yang ‘Square’ Lee (arts manager & creative producer) will attend the APP Producers Camp in Malaysia to develop new connections and strengthen existing networks with Asian artists and institutions, promoting cultural diversity in the New Zealand arts scene.
The Foundation's arts programme aims to bring Asia into the mainstream of New Zealand arts by inspiring New Zealand arts professionals to grow their connections and knowledge of Asia. It also supports the presentation of Asian arts in partnership with New Zealand arts organisations and events.
Our Arts Practitioners Fund provides support for experiential opportunities for individual New Zealand-based arts practitioners to deepen artistic and professional connections with Asia, including residencies, work placements, research tours and exchanges.
