Emma Bell
Artist in Residence 2013
Emma was based in South Korea after being awarded a place as artist in residence with the ‘IAP: Baengnyeong-do Peace Arts Residency 2013′ operated by Incheon Art Platform. Commencing in March 2013 Emma spent 3 months based between the IAP complex in the city and on location on South Korea’s remote and most north-western island, Baengnyeong-do.
The concept of her project was to pinpoint cultural identity within a site specific context by engaging in community interaction and field research that looks into the relationship and transition between tradition and contemporary. The project was an intentional contrast to the most common associations of the island, which are namely its geo-political location and military background, and aimed to document the central and more literal aspects of the area that are rarely observed or highlighted.
The core focus was to develop a series of wearable art works which were titled, ‘Tales from Blue Truck Island’, and the project additionally features an accompanying animation titled, ‘The Whistle-Stop Diaries’ ,produced in collaboration with British illustrator and animator, Will Adams. Other aspects of the project included hosting community workshops in the studio on Baengnyeong Island and collaborating with Seoul based creatives including photographers, Jessica Berggrun and Manchul Kim.
Emma presented an introduction to her work featured in the ’2013 Access Platform’ Preview Exhibition hosted at Incheon Art Platform March-May 2013 as well as showcased her project developed during her residency in a solo exhibition titled ‘Tales from Blue Truck Island’ May-June 2013. The project went on to showcase as part of the ‘IPAP: Sea of Peace’ exhibition in venues in South Korea throughout 2013. Following it’s debut in S.Korea, ‘The Whistle-Stop Diaries’ went on to be screened as part of events in the UK in London, Bristol and Bradford throughout 2013.
*Incheon Art Platform is a contemporary arts complex, operated by the Incheon Arts and Culture Foundation. The ethos is to support and nurture both Korean and International artists and research scholars, through the presentation of both educational and artistic programmes that encourage an active and creative dialogue between both the artists, the public and an international audience.
