Re: [-empyre-] chipping in

[Helen Varley Jamieson <helen@creative-catalyst.com>]

i should come out at this point as being half australian (a first 
fleeter even ; ) ... many kiwis do live between nz & australia, or 
move to australia, to study, develop careers or find the elusive 
audience. the internet gives us opportunities to find those audiences 
without leaving the country, which is great, altho su's point about 
our work being isolated from new zealand audiences is still true. but 
i wonder if it's changing - if the increase in festivals & other 
initiatives are starting to generate audiences here for digital art - 
maybe someone who has more recent experience than me can comment on 
this?
h : )

> Hi everyone,
> The point about isolation is a valid one, but I do think the more 
> significant issue is the economic and social infrastructure of nz 
> arts. It is like the artists are not themselves isolated, as most of 
> us operate within some kind of international sphere,  but our 
> practice is isolated from new zealand audiences. This is the key 
> difference I have noticed between nz and Australia.  Living between 
> the two countries has been interesting and has tested my 
> preconceptions of both. I feel confident that nz is a pacific 
> country, australia I am not sure, it's eyes seem directed elsewhere. 
> Particularly in terms of mainstream politics, it can be a very long 
> way from nz. Historically, I can go into the galleries in sydney and 
> see paintings by nz artists labelled as australian, and I even found 
> Len Lye claimed as Australian! The tug of war  seems to be about 
> nationalistic ownership, I'm not sure if this is something 
> particularly antipodean!? The demise of new media funding in .au is 
> absolutely tragic. Hopefully it does not have the same impact that 
> the shunting around of funding for film did in nz during the 80s and 
> 90s.
>
> _______________________________________________
> empyre forum
> empyre@lists.cofa.unsw.edu.au
> http://www.subtle.net/empyre


--
____________________________________________________________

helen varley jamieson: creative catalyst
helen@creative-catalyst.com
http://www.creative-catalyst.com
http://www.avatarbodycollision.org
http://www.writerfind.com/hjamieson.htm
____________________________________________________________