Erik Schmidt
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Exchange Residency Program
(International creators from abroad)
update: 2019.10.28
Erik Schmidt
| Participating Project | Exchange Residency Program (Creators from abroad) |
|---|---|
| Activity Based | Germany |
| Period | 2015.5 - 2015.7 |
Purpose of the residency
In my work I collect materials using photography and video. For my stay in Tokyo I will focus on Humans with no Home in a Box and the Insecure accommodation and homelessness in urban Tokyo. Homelessness has increased in Japan as a result of the financial crises and new rules which promote temporary work and simply 'hire and fire' practices. With the catastrophe in Fukushima, where homeless people were used as workers in contaminated areas, the problem once again became topical. Concepts such as consumer boycotts, social dropouts and community resistance were driven on by these events and by the example of the Occupy protest movement. For me, after Occupy Downtown and my observation of public spaces, this topic represents a logical step forward. Projects like my Occupy New York and Israel series were based on longer-term or multiple visits to the locality in question, which led to a new phase of work, usually oil painting at my studio in Berlin, generally lasting about 2 years.
Plan during the residency
In my three month long stay in Tokyo my plan is to seek artistic inspiration, collecting material for the project. That means photographing, drawing and filming my subjects as a basis for the work. For my films collaboration is really important to me. Therefore I would like to work with my camerawoman and will reach out to other artists/musicians/ ... in Tokyo. During the time in Japan, I plan to present my work (both existing and future) in English-language screenings and lectures, in the hope of facilitating an extensive, mutually fruitful exchange.
