SITUATION at Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney curated by Russell Storer Collaborations, collectives & artist networks from Sydney, Singapore and Berlin 6 June - 21 August 2005 Situation is a unique exhibition that looks at three artist networks active today in Sydney, Singapore and Berlin. These three cosmopolitan cities, each of around 4 million people, are cultural hubs, yet distinct from the traditional centres of London, Paris and New York. In each, vibrant artistic communities flourish, supported by a range of initiatives including collectives, artist-run spaces, publications and archives. The exhibition highlights a sharing of ideas and collaboration in the process of making the works, not only between artists, but also between artwork and audiences. The MCA has invited artists from these three cities to reflect on their own communities in this exhibition, seeking to unveil connections between artists and their working contexts through interrelated artworks, activities and performances. Projects within the exhibition include Sydney artists Jane Polkinghorne and Anne Kay producing a video archive of interviews with other Sydney-based visual artists; Singapore-based artists Juliana Yasin and Colin G. Reaney collaborating on an outdoor performance exploring ideas of arrival and immigration; and Lise Nellemann working closely with other Berlin-based artists to present a visual document of the activities of Sparwasser HQ. Situation aims to generate discussion about the enlarged scope of contemporary artistic practice, its role within society, and the role of museums in presenting such work. Enhancing the theme of the show, the MCA will open during its installation period to give the public an insight into the exhibition's processe The Artists Village's Participating Artists In SITUATION Agnes Yit Jeremy Hiah Juliana Yasin Koh Nguang How Lam Hoi Lit, kAI Lee Wen Tang Da Wu Installation by Agnes Yit MCA Gallery, Level 2 Installation by Jeremy Hiah & Tang Da Wu MCA Gallery, Level 2 Installation by Colin G Reaney & Juliana Yasin MCA Gallery, Level 2 Installation by Lee Wen MCa Gallery, Level 2 Artists Investigating Monuments III / 2005 Performance by Juliana Yasin MCA Gallery, Level 1 SITUATION opening,14 June 2005 Performance by Agnes Yit MCA Gallery, Level 2 SITUATION Opening 14 June 2005 The Singapore artists involved in AIM III project explore the locations of spaces in Sydney and look at monuments and sites around Sydney harbour. They explore the history, dual meanings of existing monuments and sites that they have chosen to work with or respond to around the Sydney harbor. Participating Artists: Agnes Yit Colin G. Reaney Jeremy Hiah Juliana Yasin Lam Hoi Lit, kAI Tang Da Wu

Performance: The Artists Village Artists Investigating Monuments III 18 June 2005 MCA Entrance, 12 noon Landfall and Departure Performance by Juliana Yasin in collaboration with Colin G Reaney. Juliana performs a story of immigration and arrival linking the colonial histories of Singapore and Australia.

Juliana YASIN Singapore Front lawn and entrance of MCA 18 June 2005

GALLERY TALKS:
Situation artists reflect on their practices in a series of gallery-based conversations.

Wednesday 15 June, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
Three Cities. Sarah Goffman, Jeremy Hiah and Ariane Muller explore similarities and differences between cities while recognising the difficulties in summing up any one scene or place.

Thursday 16 June, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
The Role of Archives and Documentation. Koh Nguang How, Anne Kay and Jane Polkinghorne examine the archivally-based projects in the exhibition as part of each artist's practice.

Friday 17 June, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
DISCUSSION: Drawing a Line in the Sand - the ethics and politics of artist-run initiatives with Alex Gawronski, Jole Wilcke and Agnes Yit. Reflecting on the choices artists make to work in certain ways and contexts

Forum
Situation: Collaborations, collectives & artist networks from Sydney, Singapore & Berlin
Saturday 18 June, 1.30pm

An illustrated forum extending the exhibition's ideas through a critical investigation of multi-dimensional and artist-determined practices; local and global, individual and collaborative.

Engaging with the increasingly globalised nature of the art world, Forum participants will explore concerns such as a questioning of the commodified, autonomous art object; an interest in research and documentation as forms of representation; and a desire for more open and dynamic communication between artist, artwork and viewer.


Program outline:

1.30pm - 1.35pm
Welcome by Judith Blackall, Head, Artistic Programs, MCA

1.35pm - 2.15pm
Local and Global Relationships

Introduced and Chaired by Lee Weng Choy, Artistic Co-Director, The Substation Arts Centre, Singapore

Ten minute responses by artists Lucas Ihlein (SYD), Lee Wen (SIN) & Lise Nellemann (BER)

2.15pm - 2.55pm
Acts of Translation

Introduced and chaired by Russell Storer, Curator, MCA, and exhibition curator

Ten minute responses by artists Simon Barney (SYD), Ariane Müller (BER) and Bianca Hester (Melbourne)

2.55pm - 3.15pm
Afternoon Tea

3.15pm - 4.55pm
Responses to Forum and Discussion

Chaired by artist Lisa Kelly (SYD)
Ten minute responses by artists kAI Lam (SIN), Elizabeth Pulie (SYD), Juliana Yasin (SIN) and Christopher Dean (Maitland, NSW), followed by discussion.

4.55pm - 5.00pm
Thanks and acknowledgements