Yi Lian “Planet Talkshow”
Points Center for Contemporary Art (Points) is glad to announce that we are going to initiate a new residency exchange program with Subhashok the Arts Centre (S.A.C). Chinese (China mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao) artists will be selected to travel to the residency in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from November this year to January 2020, through the funding and support of S.A.C.
The core theme of this residency will be centered around folk beliefs, with ghosts, spirits and superstitions as keywords to guide the creative process. There are various perspectives and threads on the study of folk beliefs. From the perspective of sociology, we can focus on social management, and from the perspective of folklore, we can learn about cultural heritage.
This direction of residency would seem to have some distance with the popular international themes of contemporary art creation. However, the desire is to provide a voice of decentralization in the context of China's massive urbanization process or the new rural plan. From one angle, the discussion of the diversity and locality of folk beliefs in mainland China is inseparable from rural areas.
From another angle, the leaping development of communication technology is also affecting the social activities of ceremonial places. This also happens to be a common theme of the cooperation and exchange between Points Center located in Jinxi Ancient town and S.A.C in Thailand.
Residency space of Thailand’s Subhashok the Arts Centre
“Thailand, though a predominantly Buddhist country, our beliefs system is a hybrid between paganism, Buddhism, Brahmanism and other beliefs. As a country that has high population in Chinese settlers and Indian settlers, their gods and traditions also became integrated into our worshipping. In everyday life, people believe in lucky charms, lucky numbers for the lottery, and superstitions foretold through nature. We also believe that our loved ones are still connected to us even in the after life. All of this has made Thailand an interesting backdrop for artists working in the scope of beliefs, culture, spirits and superstitions.”
—— Jongsuwat Angsuvarnsiri, Director of Subhashok the Arts Centre (S.A.C)
Nature worship, totem worship, ancestor worship, and the worship of local gods — many elements of folk beliefs come from animism, advocating that all objects have life and the ability to feel and think. On the one hand, modern science proves that not all physical forms have the ability to feel and think, but on the other hand, it is constantly shaping the ability of machines to perceive and learn. The connection between human beings and our after life may be realized through “mind uploading”. Will it bring ghosts, spirits and superstitions in the contemporary sense?
Residency Information
Keywords for this cycle: ghosts, spirits and superstitions
Application deadline: August 25, 2019
Residency period: from November 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020
Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand Subhashok the Arts Centre (S.A.C)
Types: artist, researcher, curator, designer
Residency funds and supports
Up to 90 days residency space
Provide Accommodation and studio space for free
Provide basic administration supports and resources to help artist realize projects · 20,000THB production fee per residency period
For special projects that require more than 20,000THB, artist must submit a detailed proposal and get approval prior to the residency commencement date
Airport pick up and drop off service · Provide partial support for return tickets to Chiang Mai up to 9000 THB. In the case that the tickets value up to 9000 THB, SAC will pay for the tickets directly; but in the case that the tickets value more than 9000 THB, SAC will reimburse the artist upon arrival to the residency.
Participating artists are asked to join in an exhibition at the end of the residency period, according to the available time and schedule
Participating artists are asked to host at least one talk/lecture or workshop for the local art community. A proposal of the workshop or talk/lecture must be submitted at the time of application.
The artist is responsible for
Visa fees (S.A.C will provide invitation letter and any supporting document necessary for visa application)
Travel fees. Bicycles are provided at the residency, but artists are advised to bring international driver’s license if possible
Insurance fees
Application method
Applications must be submitted in Chinese and English.
Visit the Residency page of the Points Art website (www.pointsart.org) - on the About Residency Program page, click to download the Points International Residency Application Form and fill it out carefully.
The artist's latest resumé.
The artist’s portfolio submitted as a PDF document (video art requires a website link. Please do not mail personal documents. We maintain no obligation to return the original materials to sender.)
After you have prepared the above information, please send the materials to info@pointsart.org and write “Points Exchange Residency” in the subject line of the email.
Information announcement
We will inform the selected artist by email and publish it on the official websites, WeChat public accounts, and Facebook pages.
About S.A.C. Residency Program
S.A.C. Residency Program is located in Chiang Mai, whose aims to offer an opportunity for artists who are willing to create their art in a different cultural and art surrounding, to gain their experience from different culture. S.A.C. offer the residency space to help artists to develop and produce new works, as well as opportunities and support to develop artists’ skills and to be involved in the local art community. Sometimes the projects are completed at the end of the residency, others will be still in development: S.A.C. hope that the proposed investigations and experiments should reverberate residents’ experiences and their careers. For the end of this residency program, S.A.C. may want to see the results of this whole program (etc. showcase some artwork). The sharing of processes, techniques and reflections on art making are what S.A.C. expect from projects we support too.