ART WRITING WORKSHOP AT Lucac '25 I 14TH - 16TH February 2025.

The ARAK Collection invites art writers and cultural researchers to apply for a three-day writing workshop in Lusaka, Zambia. Organised in collaboration with and held at the LusakaContemporary Art Centre (LUCAC) the workshop will run from Friday, 14 February —Sunday, 16 February 2025. The workshop will be facilitated by renowned art critic and scholar, Thembinkosi Goniwe.

Themed "Biographies Reimagined", this workshop will explore 'Biography' through three key dimensions: the life of objects, the life of subjects, and the contexts in which both exist. Participants will examine how cultural, historical, and social factors shape the narratives of both artists and their works. The focus will be on transcribing ideas—the process through which artworks and their creators are understood and contextualized within specific environments. Writers will be encouraged to explore the intertwined lives of objects (such as artworks, artefacts, and cultural materials) and subjects (artists, curators, and writers), and how these connections inform and influence the meaning ascribed to the work.

The workshop will derive inspiration from the ARAK Collection (Doha, Qatar), one of the largest collections of contemporary African art in the Middle East, and the exhibition Viable Vision: Martin Phiri Retrospective, curated by Lifang Zhang in collaboration with LUCAC, the Zambian National Visual Arts Council, and Evelyn Hone College. Martin Phiri’s contributions to Zambian art, his experiences studying in China, and his commitment to cultural exchange will serve as a rich example of how the life of an artwork and its creator can be understood through contextualized narratives.

Under Goniwe's guidance, participants will develop a biographical writing practice that is reflective of the interconnected lives of creators, artworks, and their social contexts, equipping them to produce nuanced and vibrant art narratives.

Application Process and Deadline:

Interested participants residing in Zambia are invited to submit a 500-word sample of their art writing to workshop@arakcollection.com by 1 January 2025.

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