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Art residency Aura of the city. Evacuated

3 - 16 October 2022
curator and participant
Svalyava, Ukraine

For me, it was an honor to be invited to become not only a participating artist, but also a curator of the artistic residency "Aura of the City. Evacuated". It was a manifestation of great trust in me, my artistic vision and communication skills. And I took the opportunity, realizing that here I have a chance to significantly expand my working tools and set of abilities. I realized that the work would be challenging and very diverse, but incredibly interesting and exciting.
This is my second experience of curating an art residency, and it was a challenge that allowed me to rethink curatorial practice, what it is. First of all, I had to understand for myself why an art residency needs a curator. What exactly am I supposed to do? Why am I here?
Having gone through this experience and reflected on it, I will be happy to share my findings.
Curation is born in an artist when they grow in their practice, begin to think on a larger scale, and move from the idea-painting to the idea-project.
My experience of curating the art residency "Aura of the City. Evacuated" was inseparable from the participation in the residency itself, as I also took part in creating works of art and conducting art therapy sessions for IDPs. This experience somehow organically intertwined with the very process of living at the residency, everyday life, joint breakfasts, lunches, dinners, working together in the studio, going for walks and excursions. We got to know each other, discussed our creative plans and everyday life, and joked around. Everyone talked about their lives, shared their stories. They showed us what they had brought to this residency. They told us how they saw the theme of the residency and how they planned to work with it.
I realized that the role of a curator is to connect the dots, to be a bridge connecting artists and viewers, art and the world. And also, to perform many administrative functions, to solve problems and issues that arise in the course of work. The role of a curator is similar to that of a director or editor. The curator and artists are united by a common idea, a theme they work on together, as well as the process of working on the realization in space and time, the unfolding of creative thought. This is where curatorial practice intersects with artistic practice.
The curator's talent is very specific, and it is to see and realize what is happening around them, what ideas are emerging, and how they are related to the context.
In no case should a curator put pressure on artists, impose his or her opinion, limit them, or squeeze them into his or her picture of what should happen and how. The curator should respect the independence of artists and their freedom to express their intentions in the way they want and in the way they work, but the curator can give advice, offer their vision, and give ideas. This work involves mutual dialog, not mentoring. The curator keeps a broad framework and helps artists to formalize their thoughts into ideas, to communicate them, gives them space, time, and attention. He or she can see something in the idea and its realization that the artist himself or herself does not notice.
While working at the art residency "Aura of the City. Evacuated", I saw that each artist participating in the residency has a strong authorial position. Everyone very quickly realized how the topic resonated with them and how they wanted to realize their ideas. While working together in the studio, the artists told me how they saw the project and how they could contribute to it. We learned from each other, were inspired, discussed, argued, and worked hard.

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