Peer/Peer Collaborations

Indonesian Artist Karin Josephine × UK-based Artist Christian Newby

What happened during the collaboration?

Process, mark-making and rambling are the key themes that emerged during the collaboration between Indonesian artist Karin Josephine and UK based artist Christian Newby. What became particularly exciting about this collaboration was the shared openness and enthusiasm by the artists for their own artworks to be manipulated by the other. Over six Zoom meetings, a framework for their project emerged. Karin and Christian both developed a body of new work during the initial phase of the collaboration. Karin, whose practice often involves book-binding, produced a handmade book. Christian made a series of works on paper from an array of found materials and news sources like the UK’s Guardian Newspaper. These series of works were sent internationally for each artist to respond, edit, and add to the other’s initial creations: Christian’s works on paper arrived in Indonesia to be further developed by Karin, and her book of Indonesian documents and collaged photocopies made their way to London for Christian. The outcome is the essence of collaboration, a book composed of the pages contributed to by both artists. A collection of layers embodying their artistic processes, Pit Stop: Mari Mampir – made from computerised scans – also emulates the layering of the physical and the digital of this collaboration, communication, and creativity.

Biographies

For years, artist KARIN JOSEPHINE has cut, torn, ripped and peeled off discarded papers for her collages. By delving through the layers and rips of discarded papers, she found out that it heals and is therapeutic at the same time. Being a person that is Hard of Hearing (HoH) and with Tinnitus (constant ringing inside one’s head), doing collage now helps Karin more than ever; to train the mind, manage expectations and accept things as they are – as well as advocate for herself.

CHRISTIAN NEWBY is an artist and researcher whose work includes ways in which the conventional implementation of applied arts and design techniques can and are being resisted and recast; subverted away from hierarchically adverse roles of artist, designer, publisher and fabricator. He draws a first-person line around the jetsam of art and craft production. His work summons the role of the mark-maker, the textile fabricator, the diarist, zine-maker and hobbyist.

(cover) 2023

Limited edition artists’ book

Pit Stop: Mari Mampir

(page detail) 2023

Limited edition artists’ book 22 × 15 × 2 cm