Between concerts, training and debates via social networks, emerges the "Emergence Artist Residency": a project that aims to connect some national artists and encourage them to "creativity and intellectual production in times of crisis", allowing the public to enjoy some works without having to leave the comfort of the sofa.
In a conversation with VerAngola, Nefwani Junior, one of the artists involved in the project, revealed that in the first days when the country entered a state of emergency there was a feeling of stagnation and frustration: "We felt stuck and without ideas. All the projects we had in terms of exhibitions were cancelled". It was before this feeling that the Emergency Artist Residency was born.
Nefwani Junior explained that this project "aims to focus on experiences and situations experienced in times of emergency caused by the covid-19 pandemic in our reality and the rest of the world".
The initiative has the collaboration of six artists: Agostinho Ngola, Filisbina Vua, Ima Tchitanga, Isabel Landama, Marisa Kingica and Nefwani Junior. The collaboration of these artists, said Nefwani Junior, took place during the first phase of the state of emergency - which ended on April 11th - however, the project will be renewed for the next 15 days.
But how does it work? According to Nefwani Junior, "each artist contributes with one or more works, sharing the process of creating them online in the groups created on social networks".
The artistic pieces can be presented in any shape or form: "Visual arts, without limitations in terms of media or means of expression, artistic languages from the most traditional such as drawing, painting and sculpture, to those arising from technological evolution, such as photography, cinema, videos and others such as installation or performance", he elucidated.
For now, people can follow the creation process through the Facebook group. However, the artist revealed that they've already "come into contact with art spaces that have online programming where the exhibitions resulting from these residencies will take place", adding that soon the works "will be presented at a Collective Exhibition on online platforms created to entertain the arts public due to social confinement".
Expectations are high for the success of the project. "The initiative is already being well received, we have had good feedback since we started, getting some partners and other artists showing interest in participating", he said.
