A group of visual artists and art teachers are following a week-long conceptual art training initiated by the National Arts Council (Nac).
Krishhna Luchoomun, a well established conceptual artist from Mauritius, is leading the training which he said is going to open new avenues for local artists both in terms of creation and opportunities.
Mr Luchoomun is also the director of pARTage, a well known private institution on our sister island which offers the artist-in-residence facilities to live and work in Mauritius. pARTage is led by a group of artists who are keen on promoting contemporary art.
Conceptual art is commonly known as installation art whereby artists specialising in this form of art focus on and choose a wide range of man-made and natural material and objects often selected for their evocative qualities to explore problems affecting us both locally and globally.
Conceptual art is characterised by the fundamental importance of the idea or concept of the work presented by the artist rather than the finished product.
The chairperson of the Nac board of directors, Gabriel Essack, launched the week-long training session yesterday at the International Conference Centre (ICCS).
In his opening remarks he noted that the competitive aspects of the art industry require constant improvement of creative artists to allow them to be at par with their peers in both regional and international arts’ arena thus the training is expected to upgrade existing skills and knowledge of local contemporary artists.
The chief executive of the Nac, Jimmy Savy, said the council is in the process of organising an arts festival in November, a major arts event which will feature all forms of art in the country and all visual artists are being invited to take part with interesting pieces.
He noted that during the week-long training session Mr Luchoomun will share his wide range of experience and expertise in contemporary art forms.
He called on the artists taking part in the training to make the most of the few days by learning as much as they can and to grasp new techniques and skills to enhance their own in order to in return be able to produce high quality works that they can display not only in the forthcoming arts festival but in the 2017 national arts biennale.
Mr Luchoomun, who has a close working relationship with the Nac and several local artists he has met through numerous exchanges, said he is very excited to share his experience with the group and also to meet new artists.
“I believe this training is going to open new avenues for local artists both in terms of creation and opportunities,” he said.
He noted that the week is going to be one of excitement, part theory and part practical.
“Gone are the days when art was just paintings, sculptures for decorative purposes. Contemporary art makes people think, it reflects societal issues like poverty, pollution, issues affecting women and artists who have no answers to these issues use a form of art to stimulate reaction from people to make them think and reflect on those issues.
It is a form of art from which there is great interaction between the public and the artists. It is a form of art which makes people reflect on ways to improve their everyday lives,” Mr Luchoomun said.
Source : Seychelles NATION