B A R B A R A M U L A S ART C U RAT OR & MAN AGER
PERSONAL STATEMENT
I’m an art curator, mediator and manager, with a BA in Art & Culture Management and Communication obtained in 2014 at IULM Milan (IT) and a MA in Curatorial Practice obtained in 2016 at Bath Spa University (UK). I believe art & creativity are rooted into daily life; every creative act is to me an open, inclusive, bottom-up process that has human relations at the core and grows from them. I am very fascinated by the use of it as a tool of multiple meanings able to activate communication and dialogue among people; a possible key for new ways of living, to help strengthen a sense of community and belonging and build-up social identity. As a curator interested in sociology and the public realm; as a coordinator I mostly adopt a cross-disciplinaty methodology therefore my work involves a wide range of collaborations and my role is therefore that of catalyst for engagement and mediator. Surely, in order for me to become so, questioning, listening and observing appear necessary and essential. I am concerned with and intrigued by questioning, expanding and reshaping meanings through others’ perspectives. At the same time, my practice enquires forms of participated subjectification and its function in different contexts and situations. Most of my research embraces Eco and Barthes’ concept of “openness”, enabling multiple significance therefore contradictions and complications.
Thi s p or tfol i o col l ects a s el ecti on of w or k s R EC OM M EN D ED Two Pag es view
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RECENT POSITIONS
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Elp idos 13 - 10434 Athen s , Gr e e c e IN,TEAM, WITH Rick Lowe (founder) , Maria Papadimitriou (co-leading artist) , Click Ngwere (artist) , Sevastiana Konst aki (project coordinator) COMMUNICATIONS.&. CURATING Online and Offline strategic planning and delivery of communication // // Art Residency coordination and curation // Wednesday Open Lunch conception and curation // Art Exhibitions at Elpidos Station I curation and coordination // workshops delivery // team representative and panellist // copywriting
Se pte m b er 201 7 - M a y 2018
V S P
f i n d o ut mo re fro m here
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER & CURATORR
VSP is an open free space for cultural and creative engagement, cultural celebrations, and artistic production. The space intends to encourage creative production and be a place for cross cultural gatherings. The activities include: workshops, seminars, events, artist residency, pairing of local businesses with the artists to elevate their cultural involvement, activation of the public space and reuse of it, public mapping and many more.
CURATOR & MANAGER
The project derives its meaning and value in the context of urban development and neighborhood planning around a particular civic space, in this case Victoria and the sixth District of Athens, an area populated by middle and upper-classed Greeks till the 80s, now empty and affordable for migrants. The district hosts many cultures yet there is lack of cohesion and trust. VSP wants to help the community see, understand, and appreciate the value of people who are different in terms of language, culture, nationality, race, and economic status.
COMMUNICATIONS
VICTORIA SQUARE PROJECT is a social sculpture by the artist Rick Lowe, created upon his invitation to participate in documenta 14, the international art exhibition that was hosted in Athens during summer 2017.
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CURATOR
RECENT POSITIONS
S O U Z Y . T R O S A R T C A N T E E N V O L U M E # I I Mar koni 8 - 10447 Athe n s , Gr e e c e IN,TEAM, WITH Maria Papadimitriou (owner and founder) , PanePerPoveri , Endboss Projects . Kassandras , FreeMovement Skateboarding , Victoria Square Project , Project Elea COORDINATION.&. CURATING Team coordination // project schedule and budget // meetings and events organisation, curation and delivery // PR & copywriting
N ov e m b er 201 7 - Ju ne 2018
COORDINATOR
f i n d o ut mo re fro m here
PROJECT
The Project especially engages the youth from Eleonas Refugee Camp and beyond, in order to offer them a different consideration and perception of themselves by building up their confidence, their imagination and their skills. Souzy Tros’ second Volume is a team-work journey that involves – among many others- Victoria Square Project, Pane Per Poveri, Free Movement Skateboarding, Kassandras, endboss projects and Project Elea.
CURATOR & COORDINATOR
For its Volume II, Papadimitriou collaborates with the artist Eleonora Meoni from PanePerPoveri, and a big network of associations. Souzy Tros courtyard itself went through changes and it is now hosting a skatepark and workshop atelier for the community to be used as a place to gather, a comfort zone where to escape mentally and physically – the contemporary crisis.
PROJECT
Souzy Tros Art Canteen was founded in 2012 by the Greek artist Maria Papadimitriou in collaboration with the art critic Cathryn Drake and it is the new T.A.M.A. platform: a place of renewed socialization and expanded conviviality, both the simulation and re-creation of a communal space.
July 2016 // Coordinator and Co-Curator
VE G E TAL I MP O R T A performance and project launch by TRASLOCHI EMOTIVI under the umbrella of MANIFESTA11 Cabaret Voltaire, Spiegelgasse, Zürich CH
OLDER POSITIONS
June 2015 // Coordinator and Assistant Curator
O N E -HUND R E D P E O P LE SAY UMB R E L LA A performance by John Baldessari curated by Le Case d’Arte under the umbrella of Theatre of Learning, curated by M.Scotini NABA, Via Darwin, Milan IT
September 2014 // Assistant Curator and Artist PA
C U M P A NI S A participatory, public art project by Maria Papadimitriou curated by Gabi Scardi, under the umbrella of EXPO Milan Ce.A.S Parco Lambro, Milan IT
P E R S O N A L P R O J E C T S
PERSONAL PROJECTS
A.Messina // B.Contarin // C.Ghezzi // C.Ceccherini |//C.Maafs // C.Aguirre D.Caneo // D.Windsor // E.Jafari // EraOra // F.Cassidy // F.Paparella // F.Sechi // G.Cusimano // G.Elia // G.Carta // G.Palomba // H.Kemps // I.Mara // L.Brillet // M.Papadimitriou // P.Moretti // R.Cusimano // S.Scanderebech // S.Bodden // T.Spiga // Traslochi Emotivi // V.Cusimano EXHIBITED September 2016 // group show at BATH SPA University , UK September 2016 // solo show with live acts at SPACE Bristol, UK July 2017 // solo show with live acts at Libreria Dessì Sassari, IT
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FEATURING
TSDo C.i s s uu.co m
THE..SUBJECTIVE DICTIONARY..OF CONTAMINATION
Because of it’s open essence, the book is meant to grow and evolve. More editions are planned and consequently also the contamination aspect will evolve, giving birth to a cross-contamination chain among author, contributors, readers and the book itself. Self published in September 2016 in Bristol and issued in one hard copy and 70 limited edition digital copies.
THE SUBJECTIVE DICTIONARY OF CONTAMINATION
The Subjective Dictionary of Contamination takes the form of an open, independent art & social book exploring the subject of contamination; it aim is to go beyond the standard, dictionary meaning associated to the concept of contamination, and explore it instead through a collection of personal interpretations, visions and considerations, in order to possibly surprise, stimulate and expand people’s comprehension and knowledge of it.
PERSONAL PROJECTS
CONVERSATIONS NEST#1 April 2016 // Cristina Arctor at Cafè Kino Bristol, NEST#2 May 2016 // Essie Valmadre at Cafè Kino Bristol, NEST#3 July 2016 // NEST Conversations at SPACE Bristol, NEST#4 September 2016 // TSDoC at SPACE Bristol, NEST#5 May 2017 // An Attempt to Unnest Secret Location Bristol, UNNEST#1 December 2018 // Victoria Square Project Athens,
UK UK UK UK UK GR
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Cristina Arctor // Essie Valmadre // Lewis Brillet // Mai Brillet // Hishimura // Hannah Kemps // Alice Pastorelli // Christina Domini // Laura Keenan // TSDoC // Aaron Brame // AKWA // Kibaflexx // Osiris // Filippo Moia // Bad Tracking // RALF // Lezicat // Caterica Ghezzi // Angel Greehnam // Milkboi // Jerico // Robin Dale // Ossia // Skolla’ // Lane // Spacedrome // Orree // Daniele Guerrini // Eleonora Gambula // Anne Marie Slater // Ma Dam // Gabriella Ferrante // Frankie Mill // Marcellina Obarska // YU // Paola Moretti // EQHOM
n e s tco n vers a t io n s @gma il.com
FEATURING
n e s t- co n vers a t io n s.t umb lr.com
N E S T CONVERSATIONS
S N O I T A S R E V N O C . T S
So far, six conversations have been organised between the UK and Greece. The last two were curated together with Cristina Aguirre and are part of “UNNEST”, a NEST format aiming at reshaping the meaning of NEST from place to place & time to time. Unnest wants to explore the dichotomy of comfort/discomfort applied to the different places the project inhabits. A third episode of Unnest is plan for winter18/19 in Italy.
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NEST embodies a new platform for creativity and dialogue. It aims to shape every time a temporary, heterogeneous community, which is invited to interact, to get ideas, feedback, and start or strengthen relations. Its goal is to involve into conversation individuals keen on thinking outside the box about the potential of the arts and creative practices. The name infact symbolises the comfort-zone of a temporary, creative and safe microcosm where to research, experiment and exchange.
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NEST Conversations is a nomadic, occasional series of art events with a social and sociologic focus. Due to its nomadic essence, the project has developed multiple identities and it’s geographically spread like a rhizome.
PERSONAL PROJECTS
CONVIVIUMS PRIVATE LOCATION & PRIVATE INVITATION #10 in Milan, Italy // #1 in Istanbul , Turkey // #1 in Mexico City, Mexico // #1 Bristol, United Kingdom PUBLIC LOCATION & PUBLIC INVITATION Ricettario ComunEATario // HABITAT // CRUDO // CHIUSA - all in Milan, Italy
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A.Cantoro // D.Serpetti // CrowOg // V.Bolognese // V.Polidoro // F.Sileo // M.Antoinette // J.Bertoncello // B.Contarin // C.GhezZi // S.Minarelli // R.DelToro // L.Pastori // M.Ieva // A.DiPalma // F.Tola // T.Mongelli // A.Cusani // Sara // C.Crescini// F.Aricò // A.Giuga // A.Moroni // F.DiCorato // M.Iannacone //T.Coste // M.Scottoni // F.Inevitabile // Marco // Gaetano // F.Vesprini // T.Spike // B. Infrano // K. Rosenlund // O.Safak // Y.Kaan Şahbazoğlu // S.Piana // S.Pecchio // C.Facco // S.Grasso // K.Gonzales // L.Garcia // X.Flores // A.Garcia // B.Barrera Yever // J.Rojo // A.Thome // A. MolinaBallester // H.Romo // I.Zingaro // Y.Ricottini // P.Mazzolini // S.Malnati // E.Dartizio // A.Zingaro // L.Gasparotto // N.Schulz // Innesco Trio // S.Puddighinu // P.Sardella // C.Paci // G.Ratti // S.Monticetti // G.Cirillo // S.ChièZara // R.Natale // O.Marino // A.Garcìa // V.Alotreb // N.Provenzano // G.Ricci // F.Silvieri // F.Papparella // F.Giangaspero // M.Brillet // C.AguirreBisi // E.Jafari plus many more attending the public events
co mun e at a mila n o @gma il.com
FEATURING
Co mun EATà .t umb lr.com
C o m u n E A T à
à T A E n u m
ComunEATà enables encounters with strangers through daily situations called conviviums, which are either hosted in private locations or open to the public. Every event is community-based and context specific, which means is organised around and from the host or hosting context; ComunEATà essence is playfull and entertaining: the guests are invited to bring some raw ingredients associated to some topic at stake, and to make up a meal together. This gesture wants to suggest sustainability, stimulate a problem solving attitude and shape a comfortable athmosphere for them to interact with each other and to approach creativity in a more open-minded and multi-disciplinary way.
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Social relations are one of the heavier inducements for the growth of human capital. From many viewpoints, relating with other people appears essential for a better life; more specifically, within the art field, new collaborations and projects often arise from informal meetings. However, the pace of globalised life makes it harder to meet new people and to start conversations.
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ComunEATà is a relational art project based on the use of food as catalyst for interaction and sharing, founded together with Cecilia Maafs.
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19 May 2018 IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENT / GROUP SHOW / OPENHOUSE F E A T U R ING Youngboyswritinggroup, Ann-Katrin Dorner, Florian Berger, Ego, Rubi Mateja, Ma Dam, NEST Conversations, Souzy Tros Elpidos 16, Athens, GR EXHIB
HOPE 16 was an art openhouse and immersive environment conceived from and organised within my Athenian flat. The event lasted 12 hours and aimed at exploring the bowndaries between the Ego, the formation of the Self and the role of inter-subjectivity. HOPE 16 was very interactive experience inside a private and personal environment: the guests were invited to read simple instructions that helped understanding it and enjoying it at most. The concept was inspired by Sartre and De Beauvoir’ Existentialism.
INTER-PRESENCE
19 / 23 January 2017
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SUPPORTED by Bristol Arts Development
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Interpresence or Ego was the fist solo show of FrenchVietnamese artist Mai-lin Brillet. The show represented an attempt to force the artist to challenge herself to go beyond her personal viewpoint, to both open it and question it. The exhibition was built gradually through the actions, reactions and contributions of the audience, that from being mere observers, became participants, active agents and actors. The artist sat up a constant dialogue with the participants during the weekend interactive performances and the Sunday informal gathering. In opening herself up to uncomfortable questions, Brillet made herself vulnerable. This exposition of the artist to others stimulated Brillet to self-reflect; indeed, by being almost trapped in a space with her reactions laid out before her, Brillet will see how the other has led her thoughts and experience.
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SOLO SHOW by Mai-lien Brillet
VICTORIAN PUBLIC TOILET The Edwardian Cloakroom, Bristol, UK
FROM#FFOOOO
21 March 2015
T O # O O O O F F
65mq - Via Casale, Milan IT
From FF0000 to 0000FF was the first solo show of Italian Illustrator and book binder Ma Dam. The title expressed a passage declaration: chromatic, psychological, but also of style. The show plunged the audience into the artist’ last stage, in which the codes #FF0000 and #0000FF, identical but totally different, represented a declaration of intent: a code passage, from a pure red to a pure blue. The exhibition hosted 11 works of different dimensions belonging to three different series unified by aspects such as chromatism, tidy line and the permanent presence of an oriental aesthetical trace. Purity, minimalism and a severe aesthetics linked to the fashion recur endlessly in the project, overtly inspired by the Sad Boys wave.
SOLO SHOW by Ma Dam
ON FEATURING BEEN I’VE PUBBLICATIONS
SEPTEMBER 2014
HOJA SANTA ( p r e v i e w n o t a va i l a bl e )
AUGUST 2016
ATP Diary
SEPTEMBER 2016
gli STATIGENERALI
DECEMBER 2017
CURRENT Athens /// Lifo
JANUARY 2018
Vice /// Penelopi /// Budapest Windows
MAY 2018
SKATEISM /// Popaganda /// MadameGinger
The New Press, New York
Bishop C., (2012)
Rogoff I., (2000)
“Artificial Hells – Participatory art and the politics of spectatorship”
“Terra infirma – Geography’s Visual Culture”
Verso, London - New York
Routledge, London & New York
Bishop C. (edited by), (2006)
Scardi G. (curated by), (2011)
“Participation – Documents of contemporary art”
“Paesaggio con figura - Arte, sfera pubblica e trasformazione sociale”
Whitechapel London, The MITT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Allemandi with SusaCulture, Turin
Bourriaud N., (2010)
De Beauvoir S., (1949)
“Estetica relazionale”
“The Second Sex”
Postmedia Books, Milano
Vintage Classics, New York
Eco U., (2004)
Barthes R.., (1967)
“Opera Aperta–Forma e indeterminazione nelle poetiche contemporanee”
“Death of the Author”
Edizione Tascabili Bompiani, Milano
UbuWeb
Lacy S., (1994)
Danto A., (1992)
“Mapping the Terrain – New Genre Public Art”
“Oltre il Brillo Box”
Seattle-Washington, Bay Press
Loesher / Marinelli
MILESTONES
Taylor & Francis Ltd, London
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL
“The Lure of The Local – Senses of places in a multicentered society”
MY
“Sociology of Community – A collection of readings”
OF
Lippard L. R., (1997)
SOME
Bell C. and Newby H. (edited by), (2005)
barbaralamulas@gmail.com
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