Our space

KP2: So, you feel that your sentences are too long?

KP: Yes.

KP2: So, maybe you should not continue in this way for long.

KP: I refuse to use copy paste.

...........

As we all know it is difficult to be present everywhere and all the time. For me this is more than clear since as a Blogger in residence you on one hand run around and catch the feeling of the day in the air or you decide to sit and listen to the lunch talk and take something from the talk as a starting point that takes you through your day. Maybe it is this thing that triggers you from the talk and then you start thinking about it during the rest of the day and you find ways to connect all the dots.

Norbert Bisky spoke to us today and showed us his works that range from paintings, watercolors and stage design. He explained that this range is easy for him as he tries to be reachable, open to new suggestions and projects. In accepting these different projects he prefers to choose something that is new to him and something that will produce tension for him so that he can grow from that spot and not repeat himself. His work is very personal yet at the same time it is open to different viewpoints and possible ambiguities. For him as an artist all the personal experiences, of death, of loss, of violence, human catastrophes and situations that make us react purely by instinct are something that he needs to explore and ask what they mean.

(KP:Note to self: The trigger from the talk- Relation to the space.)

When exhibiting his paintings Norbert Bisky changes the space by painting the walls of the space different colours. Some colours are the ones he sees in Sao Paulo that he spends some time in. It is this contrast world for him that he enjoys.It moves him out of his comfort zone something that he has learned to do years ago as one of the students of the Summer Academy taking a class of the artist Jim Dine. He was pushed on by Jim Dine to be brave and act "Come on, you can't think about it, just do it."

As I was triggered during the talk about the idea of the space and how we relate to it I started thinking about the two locations of the classes, Alte Saline in Hallein and Hohensalzburg Fortress. What was great today is that I could share and bounce of my thoughts with another freelance writer who is here. Today was her first time to see the space and get the atmosphere of the Academy. One of the first questions she asked me was about the space and if I have the feeling that it is too closed off. I could understand her point of view as somebody from the outside that is looking in. But if I switch and start to think from the point of view of the students the space that is available is very inspirational. If you come here just to focus on the production of the works it is in fact this small yet very open world.

As we heard from the talk today, the experiences here can stay with you maybe for life.