Big 60 & International Video Art Festival, Lagos 2014/2015

A Whitespace,
58 Raymond Njoku
SW Ikoyi
Lagos
January 22nd 7pm

In 2014, VAN Lagos was invited as one of the art organizations at the International Artists Initiated (IAI) project, presented by the David Dale Gallery and Studios as part of The Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme. This took place alongside the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow Scotland.

This is a video installation that simulates an Owambe ambience. Owambe translates as "He/She was there", a colloquial expression for a party where the who-is-who in the Nigerian society are in attendance. Visual cues tell of ties to a celebrant through fabric materials that provide uniformity and a sense of belonging. The entire scene is illuminated by shimmering headpieces (gele) and brilliantly coloured costumes (aso ebi), all creatively embroidered and worn with accustomed grace. Reciprocity is practiced in that giving flows in all directions, from the celebrant to the families and the guest; there exists a commonality in the dispersal of gifts.

As part of this expanded screening and in partnership with A Whitespace the Video Art Network Lagos is pleased to host the International Video Art Festival Lagos running from the 18th December 2014 - 15th January 2015.

 Participating artists include, Jude Anogwih, Buki Bodunrin, Oyinda Fakeye, Emeka Ogboh, Wura-Natasha Ogunji and Uche Okpa Iroha.

These artists explore/interpret Owambe, and how Nigerian communities and cultures contribute to the wider cultural discourse of the global community.
Our guest country in this edition is Indonesia with films generously made available by OK Video. This screening features 10 years of video art in Indonesian.
The programme is being organised and curated by the Video Art Network, Lagos and OK Video , Indonesia with the support of the British Council.

About the Organisation:
The Video Art Network Lagos (VAN Lagos) is a Lagos based New Media art organization, established by the collaborative efforts of artists Emeka Ogboh, Jude Anogwih and cultural producer Oyindamola Fakeye. The organizations objectives are to develop educational and public programmes that promote and create new media art awareness in Nigeria. This is realized through curated screenings and exhibitions of both established and emerging New Media artists.

 For more information: www.vanlagos.org 

OK Video is one of the division of Ruangrupa, a contemporary art organization founded in 2000 by a group of artists in Jakarta which encourages the progress of the idea of art in the urban context and the broad scope of culture through exhibitions, festivals, art laboratories, workshops, research, and the publication of books, magazines, and journals.
In addition to organizing the biennial video festival OK. Video – Jakarta International Video Festival, the division also conducts workshops, production, collection, documentation, and distribution of video art in Indonesia.

For more information: http://okvideofestival.org 

TRANSOCEANIC VISUAL EXCHANGE (TVE) OPEN CALL

TVE is making an open call in search of recent artist's film and video to be included in an exchange between Fresh Milk (Barbados), RM, (Auckland) and VAN, Lagos (Nigeria).

Fresh Milk, RM and VAN Lagos, are pleased to welcome submissions of recent film and video works – screenings, installations and expanded cinema – by contemporary artists, to be included in programmes for exchange between Barbados, Auckland and Lagos. Submitted works must have been completed in the last five years and must be made by artists practicing in the Caribbean, Africa or Polynesia.

The foundation of this transoceanic visual exchange (TVE) will be a collection of recent artist’s film and video from each region. However, the final shape and content of the programme will be informed by an open workshop process, which aims to involve and promote discussion within the wider arts communities of each arts initiative.

Working between the Caribbean, Africa and Polynesia, TVE aims to negotiate the in-between space of our cultural communities outside of traditional geo-political zones of encounter and trade. Fresh Milk, VAN Lagos and RM first met as participants in IAI (International Artists Initiated), a programme organized and facilitated by David Dale Gallery, Glasgow, in July 2014. TVE intends to build upon relations established during this initial encounter and open up greater pathways of visibility, discourse and knowledge production between the artist run initiatives and their communities.

Submissions:
• Must be work from artists practicing in the Caribbean, Africa or Polynesia.
• Must be works that have been completed/made in the last five years.
• Can be films of any length (shorts, experimental, features and video artworks)
• Can be in any language (films originally produced in regional languages are welcome) with English subtitles.
• Multiple submissions are welcome
• Must be accompanied by a description of the work (500 words max), a bio (200 words max) and detail of any technical requirements i.e. audio, installation, equipment required, preferred setting etc.
• Works must be in the form of mp4 files no larger than 10MB, or private vimeo / youtube links

Deadlines for Submission: 16th February 2015
The exchange will occur in June 2015
Please send submissions and enquiries to the region in which you are practicing:
Caribbean: freshmilkbarbados@gmail.com
Polynesia: taarati@rm103.org
Africa: info@vanlagos.org / vanlagos.org@gmail.com

About the Spaces
The Fresh Milk Art Platform Inc. is a Caribbean non-profit, artist-led, inter-disciplinary organization that supports creatives and promotes wise social, economic, and environmental stewardship through creative engagement with society and by cultivating excellence in the arts. Fresh Milk bridges the divides between creative disciplines, generations of creatives, and all linguistic territories in the region. It functions as a cultural lab, fostering critical, creative practices through local, regional and international programming. The platform transforms into a gathering space for contemporary creatives who are thirsty to debate ideas and share works through residencies, lectures, screenings, workshops, exhibitions, projects etc.

The Video Art Network, Lagos (VAN, Lagos) is a Lagos based New Media art organization, established by the collaborative efforts of artists Emeka Ogboh, Jude Anogwih and cultural producer Oyindamola Fakeye. The organizations objectives are to develop educational and public programmes that promote and create new media art awareness in Nigeria. This is realized through curated screenings and exhibitions of both established and emerging New Media artists.

RM is an artist-run space, project office and (gradually developing) archive. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, RM is a gallery that places the work of local emerging artists alongside more seasoned practitioners. RM seeks to engage with the practices, discourses and modes of presentation that aren’t well-supported or easily accessible in Auckland. Though we might look like a white cube, we are more interested in the potentials of an empty room – a space to gather, to think, to talk, to make, to share… Established in 1997, RM is the country’s longest running artist-run-space. The co-directors are Eleanor Cooper, Melanie Kung, Ziggy Lever, Fleur Sandbrook, Taarati Taiaroa, and co-founder Nick Spratt. Previous incarnations of the rm project have included rm3, rm212, rm401 and rm103.

International Artist Initiated

International Artist Initiated

17.07.14 - 03.08.14

Opening Friday 18th July 6 - 9pm

Party Friday 18th July 9pm - Late

Drinks by Tender Bar

Music & Food

David dale Gallery Courtyard

Venues:

David Dale Gallery and Studios

161 Broad Street

Glasgow G40 2QR

Wodwork

Enter through David Dale Gallery

Glasgow Transport Boxing Gym

136 Fordneuk Street

Glasgow G40 3AH

Organisations:

The Cyprus Dossier, Cyprus

Clark House Initiative, India

Fillip, Canada

Fresh Milk , Barbados

Rm, New Zealand

Video Art Network Lagos, Nigeria

Part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme. Supported by Creative Scotland and British Council.

http://www.daviddalegallery.co.uk/exhibitions/future-exhibitions/international-artist-initiated/

Download the programme here: IAI Exhibition Programme