Gasworks,
the Jan Warburton Charitable Trust and the Office for
Contemporary Art Aotearoa are delighted to announce that
Shiraz Sadikeen will be going to London in October as the
eighth New Zealand artist to undertake a residency at
Gasworks. More than 90 applications were received for the
2024 residency, almost twice the number of applications in
previous years.
Shiraz Sadikeen (b. 1989)
lives and works in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. He makes
paintings and sculptures that mediate their own conditions
of production and reception. Often made using ready-made or
found materials, as well as various processes of abstraction
and formal displacement, Shiraz’s work explores the
associations between these objects and the situations from
which they originally derive. During his residency at
Gasworks, Shiraz will research the current political,
economic and ideological circumstances of the United
Kingdom, reflecting on its changing relationship to Aotearoa
New Zealand.
Shiraz completed a BA (International
Relations) at Victoria University Wellington in 2013, and a
BFA and an MFA art Elam School of Fine Arts in 2018 and 2020
respectively. Recent solo exhibitions have included, The
Natural Rate, Treadler, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
(2024), Affirmation, Savage Garden, Naarm, Melbourne
(2022), Ends, Coastal Signs, Tāmaki Makaurau
Auckland (2022), Securicraft, Coastal Signs, Tāmaki
Makaurau Auckland (2021), Geist, Neo Gracie, Tāmaki
Makaurau Auckland (2019). Shiraz has been a founding member
of a number of art initiatives, including Treadler
(2023–ongoing), Neo Gracie (2019–2023) and Samoa House
Library (2019–2020).
About the residency
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The
Gasworks residency offers an early / mid-career artist,
opportunities for self -led professional development,
artistic exchange and experimentation and development of new
international networks, and as such can be significant for
the advancement of their career. Alongside the time for
extensive practice-based research and access to artists in
London with similar interests, Gasworks provides
opportunities for the artist to develop new work and
showcase their practice, work ethic and conceptual focuses
to an international audience, including curators and
collectors, unavailable in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The
residency provides return flights to London, 24/7-access to
a private studio space in the Gasworks building,
accommodation in a house shared with three or four other
international artists in residence with Gasworks, plus
living and materials allowance.
The critical nature at
the heart of Gasworks encourages the fostering of active
dialogues with local creative practitioners, including
artists, curators and writers, as well as direct engagement
with important London-based artist-run spaces, collectives,
galleries, museums, patrons and collectors.
The
three-month, fully funded residency will take place from
October – December 2024 and is made possible through the
very generous support of the Jan Warburton Charitable Trust,
private individuals who contribute to NZ Friends of
Gasworks, Emma Lewisham and the British Council Aotearoa New
Zealand and the Pacific.
Natasha Beckman, Director of
the British Council Aotearoa New Zealand and Pacific, says
”This is unique opportunity for Shiraz to expand and
refine his artistic skills in London, a city known for its
diversity and vibrant visual arts community. Embodying the
essence of cultural exchange, a core value of the British
Council, through this residency we know that Shiraz will
share valuable insights about Aotearoa with others during
his time in London.”
Emma Lewisham, commented
“I am honoured to be partnering with Gasworks to help
support Shiraz through their London residency. This
initiative provides an unparalleled opportunity for Shiraz
to research, experiment and develop their discipline
alongside a community of other international creatives,
receive extensive pastoral and curatorial support, and
develop and expand their professional networks in what can
provide a significant advancement in their
career.”
About
Gasworks
Established in 1994, Gasworks is a
non-profit contemporary visual art organisation working
between UK and international practices, offering a cohesive
space of critical dialogue and studio-driven practices.
Gasworks run a highly respected international residency
program offering artists the opportunity to research new
work in London. Events, workshops and open studio events are
organised to engage the wider community, as well to provide
the resident artists an opportunity to develop and expand
their professional networks. Through Gasworks, curator and
patron visits ensure that the artists are provided with an
active landscape to ensure the exposure of their artistic
practices.
This will be the eighth consecutive
Gasworks Residency for a NZ artist. Previous artists in
residence at Gasworks are Sriwhana Spong, Katrina Beekhuis,
Hikalu Clarke, Christina Pataialii, Sarah Rose, Campbell
Patterson and Sorawit Songsataya.
About Jan Warburton Charitable
Trust
The Jan Warburton Charitable Trust
(JWCT) was established by Dunedin-based collector and
philanthropist, Jan Warburton, to support the development of
contemporary art in Aotearoa New Zealand, with a particular
focus on late-emerging and mid-career artists.
The
residency for a New Zealand artist at Gasworks was developed
by the Trust in 2016 and has been supported over the years
by a number of individuals including David and Libby
Richwhite, Dame Jenny Gibbs, Jenny and Andrew Smith, Sonja
and Glenn Hawkins, Shirley Ann and Rick Mannering, Tim
Melville, Jan Warburton, Rosemary and Tim Auld and Ngila
Boyd and Michael Lett. Without their generosity, the
residency would not be possible.
About Office for Contemporary Art
Aotearoa
The Office for Contemporary Art
Aotearoa (OCAA) works in partnership with other
organisations and individuals, both from New Zealand and
internationally to enable and facilitate the presentation of
work by New Zealand artists at major overseas exhibitions;
and to encourage exchange and dialogue between visual arts
practitioners from New Zealand and their international
counterparts. OCAA was formed by Stephanie Post in early
2024 and is based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. OCAA is
delighted to work with Gasworks and Jan Warburton Charitable
Trust to facilitate the annual residency at Gasworks and is
extremely grateful to all those who support the funding of
the residency.
About Emma
Lewisham
This is the first year that leading
beauty brand, Emma Lewisham, has supported the residency.
Founded in New Zealand, Emma Lewisham pioneers evidence
based, natural skincare that is circular-designed, certified
climate positive and endorsed by Dr Jane
Goodall.
Media release – Gasworks residency 2024
3
About the British Council
Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific
British
Council builds connections, understanding and trust between
people in the UK and countries worldwide. Through arts and
culture, British Council Aotearoa New Zealand and the
Pacific works to connect the people of Aotearoa New Zealand
and the UK. The British Council are delighted to support
Shiraz as part of Gasworks’ unique residency programme,
connecting artists with UK cultural professionals,
collectors and patrons and giving them time to research and
develop their practice in
London.
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