Reflections.
Diversity Art Forum-Academy Now Short Listed Artists.
Tuesday 20th June 2017
We are extremely honoured to announce the final shortlist of this year for the Academy Now main section of MA recent art graduates. Before announcing them, I would like to thank all artists who submitted their application showing us that there is a specific need for projects dedicated to recent art graduates. It also shows trust and we take it seriously.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my collaborators, and all the judges. We are trying to create a community where we share our passion for research within visual culture and we try to make a difference supporting each other. I think it is very important, given the digital times we are living, to invest time and energy in personal relations and this is what we are trying to do.
The 2017 Academy Now Shortlist of the main MA recent Art Graduates section are:
LENI DOTHAN
DANIEL DRESSEL
ANOUSKA SAMMS+SOFIA PANCUCCI-MCQUEEN
NOA PANE
GIULIO SAVERIO ROSSI
LENI DOTHA(Slade School of Art).
For bravely encouraging discussions around topics like motherhood, family relations and social/cultural boundaries. Her work revisits representation of women and motherhood in renaissance paintings and through powerful installations she encourages the viewer to reflect upon the non-spoken. Leni is in discussions with Delfina and has an exhibition in Norway with support from Diversity Art Forum.
DANIEL DRESSEL
For his attempt to take a stance in the current world by transform indignation into vital driving force shared with others. His 4 projections video installation Polygon, explores the complex relationships between class, community, finance and capital in the context of London's former docklands.
ANOUSKA SAMMS+SOFIA PANCUCCI-MCQUEEN
For highlighting the transcultural nature of places such as baths where seemingly disparate traditions are continually exchanged. In the film, The Baths, it becomes apparent that in sharing the same space, men of different cultural backgrounds are also sharing wider cultural histories.
NOA PANE
For addressing topics such as human subjugation, force and violence through works which simultaneously explore the boundaries between sculture, performance and public art.
GIULIO SAVERIO ROSSI
For his critical use of a traditional media such as painting and drawing not leaving space for redundancy or given narrative.
The 2017 Academy Now Shortlist of the APERTO section are:
MIA GOURVITCH
HYENAZ
SOPHIE KO
MIA GOURVITCH
For her research around the elusive nature of photography and to explore the intertwined imprints of traces, memories, reflections and deflections on the photographic surface and beyond.
HYENAZ
For bravely and boldly embarking on a unique interactive performance, Critical Magic, integrates electronic music, chaos, magic, performance, digital media and all boundaries are blurred. Hyenaz is in discussions with Live Development Agency with support from Diversity Art Forum.
SOPHIE KO
For attempting to map a geography of images beyond time going back to pure pigments.
The 2017 Shortlist will be featured on the Academy Now website and will be invited to a conversation where they can talk about themselves and their work.
The shortlisted artists will be presented to professionals of the art industry as Academy Now's aim is to build bridges between Art Colleges/Artists and the Art System.
Diversity Art Forum has also supported Jabulani Maseko (Slade School of Art) who has been accepted for SUD Off as part of the SUD Triennale 2017.
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JUDGES 2017- 2018
The Academy Now jury is made of young as well as more senior professionals: artists, curators, museums/foundations directors and art patrons. All judges are invited for their knowledge of contemporary visual culture and for their genuine focus on supporting research and new artists.
Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, collector and president of Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo- Turin.
Vittoria Matarrese, head of cultural program & special projects and chief curator of performance art at Palais de Tokyo -Paris.
Pauline de Souza, senior lecturer at the University of East London and director of Diversity Art Forum -London.
Frédéric de Goldschmidt, private collector and art patron- Brussels.
Pre-selectors:
Zhu Tian, artist, winner of the Broomhill National Sculpture Prize '14 (UK) and the Catlin Art Prize '15 (UK), shortlisted by Academy Now 2014.
Lorenzo Balbi, curator, coordinator of the Young Curators Residency Programme at Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo -Turin.