Project of the week - Project Art Writing (Aarhus)

Behind the concept of 'Art Writing' hides a genre hybrid, where text-based art can relate equally to other forms of artistic practice and the text experiments may act in combination with photos, form, body, sound and space. The purpose of this project is to gather knowledge, develop and qualify the area for text-based art. The ambition is that the project is going in a direction where an actual education remains in 2018. The project has resonated ever since the beginning, which has also led to fruitful international collaborations.

Jette Sunesen and Trine Rytter Andersen are the people behind Project Art Writing; a project that dates back to 2011. Jette Sunesen as manager of Aarhus Literature Centre and one of the original promoters and Trine Rytter Andersen as project manager, responsible for outlining the program. They both agree that there is a need for rethinking literature. The bag simply needed – and needs – to be shaken. Not only for the convenience of the reader, but also for those who create the text: 

"You could say that our project rethinks literature as an art form. For example, a book is a very static media, and therefore it should be shaken slightly. The goal is to develop the language and form – and simply rethink the use of literature. The project is going very cross-genre, which is a development that also appears in many other art forms. It is an opportunity to reach out to the reader, the text’s 'audience', in new ways," says Jette Sunesen. 

Trine Rytter Andersen adds: 

"For many writers there are of course many ways to think about the form and write. One thing is for example to exploit the opportunities that our increasingly digital society opens up; but our project also gives the writer the chance to return to the more playful and experimental text and the space it unfolds both within the book's framework and outside it. So the project can also be seen as an opportunity for the writer to regain the creative freedom and exceed the more classic framework of literature”, explains Trine Rytter Andersen.

Master classes that develop skills 
The programme leading up to 2017 is based on three strong programmatic legs: master classes, seminars and a final festival with exhibitions. The formats are developed each year around a theme, so that they are mutually inspiring and in a progressive process that will culminate in 2017 and end in 2018 with the establishment of a ‘Knowledge Centre of Art Writing’ in Aarhus. To assist the development of the centre the hope is that the project will be assigned a Ph.D., just as there are plans to make Art Writing an education in the future. 

The project's master classes have been very successful so far. The same applies to the goal of ensuring international interest. Among other things, it has had the positive effect of three internationally renowned artists and experts in art writing, Michael Palmer, Maria Fusco, Caroline Bergvall, becoming 'artists in residence' and teaching at a number of master classes held during 2013 and 2014. 

At Maria Fusco’s masterclass in June this year there were many nationalities represented among the participants. Jette Sunesen and Trine Rytter Andersen remember some crazy days that took its toll on the participants - and the teacher: 

"Maria Fusco gave two master classes. One aimed at those who want to teach others in Art Writing; the other for those who exercise Art Writing and would like to develop their own writing practice. It was definitely experimenting and challenging for all parties. But that’s just it: One must dare to risk themselves at our master classes - you can’t just sit back and observe the lecturer and take notes. It is a clear objective of the project that it is always progressive, but also that each year qualifies the next", says Trine Rytter Andersen. 

Jette Sunesen agrees with that statement: 

"Participation in our master classes requires that you send a motivated application and already have an artistic portfolio. We wish among others to provide a competence boost to already competent writers. It is, of course, with that perspective in mind that those who get a boost over the years will be contributors to our big festival in 2017," says Jette Sunesen.

Much on the programme 
There are many initiatives in the pipeline until 2017. 

They are, among other things: 

2014:
• Masterclass 27th to 29th of October 2014 with Kaspar Bonnén and Ida Marie Hede. Read more about it here (in Danish).
• In the week of the master class, Project Art Writing also opens the door for a two-day seminar on the theme 'WORDS & 3D', Thursday 30th and Friday 31st October. The event is open to the public.
• Exhibition from 22nd October to the 9th of November 2014 – the works of Kaspar Bonnén and Tanja Nelleman on Godsbanen.

2015: 
• INTIMACY: Text & Performance – master classes, seminars and exhibitions focusing on the body and language (more info and dates to follow).

2016: 
• THE BIG SCALE: Text & Architecture – master classes, seminars and exhibitions focusing on Utopia and Megalomania (more info and dates to follow).

2017: 
• Master classes and seminars (more info and dates to follow).
• CLOSE UP & WIDE OPEN: The climax takes place in 2017 and unfolds with localized text works in the city's large and small spaces. The audience will perceive the works as posters, installations, performances, neon lights, digital text, video and audio.

Facts: 
Jette Sunesen is educated in Literature and Arts at the University of Aarhus. Since 1996, she has worked to develop and publicize the literary landscape in Aarhus at, among others, Kulturhus Aarhus, the association Literature on Stage and now as manager of Aarhus Literature Centre. 

Trine Rytter Andersen is originally educated as a painter at Jutland Art Academy. She is a former performance artist and for the past 15 years, she has worked as a curator and a writer. She focuses primarily on the text now, with a wide field of studies that cover communications, cultural production and analysis of practice and works. 

For more information about the project: 
Trine Rytter Andersen 
Telephone.: + 45 24 85 97 19 
Mail: artwriting@litteraturen.nu

The steering committee
Project Art Writing is a collaborative project with a very committed steering committee. It consists of: 

Jesper Rasmussen, president, The Royal Academy of Fine Arts 
Pablo Llambias, Rector, The Writers’ School 
Marianne Ping Huang, pro dean, ARTS, University of Aarhus 
Dan Ringgaard, Associate Professor, Nordic Language and Culture, University of Aarhus 
Kristoffer Orum, artist and professor, Funen Art Academy 
Lars Kiel Bertelsen, Associate Professor, Art History, University of Aarhus 
Anne Myrup Munk, Ph.D. Candidate, Comparative Literature, University of Aarhus 
Ida Marie Hede, author, teacher and many others. 
Mathias Kokholm cultural project maker and owner of the publishing house ANTIPYRINE 

Read more about the project at http://www.litteraturen.nu/artwriting/