The Royal Academy of Arts has partnered with Arts in Heritage Research, Hong Kong (AHR) and The Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing (CAFA) to establish a three-year artist-in-residence exchange programme for emerging artists. Rotating across the UK, Hong Kong and China, the Royal Academy Schools in London is the first host of the project this summer. This inaugural stage of the residency programme will end with a two-week group exhibition of works created by the participating artists, open to the public from 3 – 14 September.
The eight participating artists – four from London, two from Beijing and two from Hong Kong – will be spending an intense six weeks working with artist Sarah Jones, Resident in Critical Practice at the Royal Academy Schools (2014 – 2016). The residency will facilitate the coming together of different artistic practices, backgrounds and cultures; enabling the artists to work alongside one another, to exchange their experiences within the visual arts, and to explore aspects of the history of the Royal Academy and London, as well as to form long-lasting professional relationships. This culminates in the unique opportunity to show their works within the studios of the prestigious Royal Academy Schools.
The artists in residence, all under the age of 30, include Peter Donaldson, Alana Francis, Ella McCartney and John Robertson who are alumni of the Royal Academy Schools in London; Stephanie Sin and Ng Sum Chi from Hong Kong; and Cui Ran and He Xiao from CAFA, Beijing. The diversity of their backgrounds and practices, which range from traditional Chinese painting to new media, text art and performance projects, as well as the new experiences and techniques explored in the residency programme, will underpin the final works forming this group exhibition. A publication to document the residency, coordinated by Sarah Jones, will be subsequently published.
The Royal Academy Schools is an independent art school that offers the only three-year, full-time postgraduate fine art course in Europe. The RA Schools programme offers exposure to ideas and constructive critique, a dialogue with a variety of voices, and access to specialist workshops, underpinned by the question of what is useful to the artist. Comprised of group critiques, lectures, artist’s talks, workshops and innovative forums for discussion and development, the programme provides the intellectual and creative environment to develop the singularity of each individual participant’s art practice.
Eliza Bonham Carter, Curator and Head of the Royal Academy Schools, said: “The Royal Academy is eager to host the inaugural exchange programme, and to introduce these talented artists to the international stage. This exchange will facilitate unprecedented communication between promising young artists in London, Beijing and Hong Kong. As a school, we are dedicated to promoting artists locally, regionally and internationally and our ultimate hope is that these artists will gain further insight into their practice and a broadened global perspective.”
TILT: Work by artists from Hong Kong, Beijing and London in residence at the Royal Academy Schools 3 – 14 September 2014 Schools Studios, Royal Academy of Arts Free Admission.
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