International artists-in-residence 1990-2010 : mobility, technology and identity in everyday art practices

Abstract

Considering the exponential growth of artistic residencies between 1990 and 2010 at an international level, artists working in associated mobility programmes have been challenged by unsettled transnational working practices and competition. This, in turn, provides them with the opportunity to develop their creative processes. It is shown that artists’-in-residence openness and willingness to travel internationally is, on the one hand, related to the development of information technology, and on the other, supported by travelling facilities, which have impact on lifelong learning and cultural maintenance. Whereas change of geographical environment is often associated to psychological and physical conditions, artists’ statements reveal the dichotomy and paradox between globalization, collaboration and dispersion versus isolation, individualism and concentration. Possibilities for documenting and circulating artworks through digital communication tools and in-situ supply support and generate knowledge and recognition. All these possibilities, however, are challenged by uncertainty. The acknowledgment of cultural differences and barriers is expressed by artists in the most varied ways, especially through performance art and site-specific installations. As a source of inspiration, cross-cultural environments are negotiated by artists’ hybrid identities, situated at the intersection of Western and Non-Western aesthetic traditions. Artists’ cross-cultural environments are composed of international and intercultural communication issues and practices, where the sense of place, environmental awareness through multisensory experiences and the importance of everyday routines are reflected. Methodologically, this research is two-fold, based on a qualitative content analysis of selected artists-in-residence statements and artworks, and on a conceptual framework developed on social processes, artists’ individual motivations and technology purposes.