@maishamarshallende
Versant Sud residences
Versant Sud is developing a residency and artistic exchange program that allows artists to take time outside the constraints of daily life to devote themselves to experimenting with their practice. The project is part of the field of contemporary art and aims to support artists.
This residency program entitled Passages contributes to revealing talents, allows the professionalization of artists, includes meetings with buyers and plays a decisive role in the mobility of artists. It is an invaluable model of cooperation between cultural and artistic networks.
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Methodology
A production or creation residency
Each season, Versant Sud organizes residencies for artists from territories far from the art market with: support in artistic production, provision of tools, organization of professional meetings and communication on Instagram.
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Communication
The artist benefits at the end of his residency:
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A one-minute video teaser in HD quality, produced by a professional videographer
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HD making-of photos
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The artist / craftsmanship collaboration
During his application (only in the case of production residencies), the artist suggests a list of materials (leather, textile, wood, paper, etc.) with which he wishes to work.
The winning artist is thus led to appreciate a new medium in collaboration with a craftsman and develops a new line of work in his current creation. The craftsman, for his part, puts his know-how at the service of contemporary art.
Similar artistic residences have appeared in the manufactures of luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton or Hermès where the craftsmanship brings its expertise to a material it knows by heart. This type of residency allows participating artists to leave, rich in ideas, artistic creations and inspiration.
© Anais Baseilhac
When applying, the artist suggests a list of materials (leather, textile, wood, paper, etc.) with which he wishes to work.
The winner is thus brought to appreciate a new medium in collaboration with an artisan and develops a new line of work in his current creation. As for the craftsman, he puts his know-how at the service of contemporary art.
Similar artistic residences have appeared in the factories of luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton or Hermès where the art profession brings its expertise to a material that it knows by heart. This type of residence allows participating artists to leave, rich in ideas, artistic creations and inspiration.
The artist invited in residence is selected via a call for applications, by a jury made up of professionals, for the quality of their artistic approach, their innovative character and their ability to confront and interact with a craft trade.
To support the young creation, the call for applications targets young graduates from art and design schools, but also professional artists at the start of their career.
The following disciplines are privileged: visual arts, photography, painting, drawing, engraving and sculpture.
I started exploring the Ethiopian mattress pattern in 2018.
Growing up in Addis Ababa, this motif was well known to me. It was not uncommon to see a mountain of mattresses stacked in the back of a pick-up, the
bright colors swaying dangerously in the wind. I used this iconic fabric as a cultural bridge to help me discover and
navigate this multicultural world.
Although I am trained as a photographer, I am also interested in using other crafts to expand my practice. This residency program was a wonderful opportunity to learn something completely new. I got into screen printing, reimagining the iconic pattern and creating my own custom fabrics.
Maisha Marshall-Ende
