Dark winter artist residency
This is a special program under Listhus Artist Residency Program. For an South-Asian, winter in Iceland is a nightmare, mainly effected the physical body, then, mentally (mind). Other than that, winter is amazing, those soft pink of sun color and blue magic hours. The snow also put a white coat on the land. I will call it "white beauty". Because of the dark and the cold, people will be eager to work inside more wonder around outside. I think it is an excellent working experience for artists. Then, the idea of skammdegi came out.
The video of Skammdegi festival 2017
So, what is skammdegi? In Icelandic, that means 21st December, the shortest sunning day . The sun is gradually up a little every day from that day. Olalsfjordur is rounded by mountains. People won't see the direct sunlight until 21st January, mostly after a few day. Traditionally, people in the town will celebrate the first sunshine in the house for inviting others to enjoy pancakes together.
What is Skammdegi Festival?
Selected artists will stay the village at least two months or up to three and work with their project. By the end of the stay, there is a festival for them to show their works. Because of the setting, most of participating artists were very productive. Some of them went crazy or got more creative ideas. Whatever, it was a extraordinary experience.
For management perspective, it was challenge. Firstly, in the first 2 years I worked alone to manage 14 to up to 25 artists at the same period. To fit their needs were not so easy. Secondly, the program was lack of extra support. The artists had to self-support or support each others. On the other hand, they got absolutely freedom (based on safety). They could try whatever they wanted. Here are some works showing how they integrated the environment.
Do we live to practice dying? by Jakub Janco

Outdoor projection by Adam Sloan + Laura Campbell (Liverpool, UK)

Scott Probst (New South Wales, Australia) turned his bedroom into an exhibition space

The key Man a shadow puppet show / Immersive Game Theatre by Banana Effect

BATTLE a dance piece created by Priscila Chu | performed by Priscila Chu & Chan Wan Lok Michelle Priscila just used the pops she could find around her...

Storytelling in an old old tank Katrine Faber(Hjortshøj, Denmark)

screening outside an old oil tank by Katherine Kavanaugh (Baltimore, USA)
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