Tankwa Artscape Residency at Stonehenge Private Reserve


Tankwa Artscape Residency Fri 7 May to Mon 17 May 2021

Concept

Imagine a desert floor, undisturbed by human traffic. It’s not the absence of life that is so dramatically visual. It is a few million years old retrospective of ancient seabed and cataclysmic geological events in Earth history, and the footprint of storms and water flow in the riverbeds. Vast pans nudge aside scrub and vlei and gentle hills and land, which drop outside of the quick glance, towards a perimeter of deep-set mountain horizon.
Across some of the expanse of tight scrub and dark flatland there is a bicycle track that may have traversed this space anytime between two weeks and twenty years ago; a rut has embedded itself into spongy soil between the rocks. Weathering has deepened the impression, the impact from which erosion has begun.
You could say it defines the beginnings of consciousness, that bicycle track. It represents a challenge that will always be here: to what extent should this kind of impact be acceptable. And where is the compromise?
As an artist how do we respond to this landscape in a way that pays respect to the unique desert aesthetic?
The original ‘gate-keepers’ of the land here lived light on the ground. Who should be the present and future ‘curators’ of this landscape, and what responsibility comes with that curatorship?
It is the artist who is able to leave another kind of impression, a way of seeing that can affect the conscious gaze of anyone passing or experiencing their work. In the end, if the art is offered with the right intention, the aim of this project has been fulfilled.

Considering what is the ‘right intention’ is where the work begins.

Themes of shelter versus open space, nourishment versus scarcity, protection versus vulnerability start to define what is naturally happening in that landscape.
The fauna, flora, geology and history of the Tankwa and its people will further inform artistic concepts.

Collaboration and Conversation

We encourage collaboration between artists. Everyone who participates at and contributes to Tankwa Artscape is perceived as a creative – this specifically includes caterers, supportive assistants, photographers and videographers – we all come together to create something very special. This “sanctifies” the creative space, ensuring consideration and participation from all as well as appreciation for all contributions.
We encourage conversation across all art forms, Tankwa Artscape is a chance for all participants to converse, to ask questions, to discuss concepts, to laugh loudly, to share your experiences and to tell stories.

Locations for artworks

Stonehenge Private Reserve is a Nature Reserve, therefore locations for artworks are carefully chosen so as to not disturb the unspoiled terrain. The selected sites are attractive and interesting in a variety of ways, and have all experienced prior disturbance or human intervention.

Documentation

We will have photographers/videographers on site to document the artistic processes of your artworks

Financial support

Unfortunately we are not able to pay travel or artist fees. We can send a letter of invitation to you to seek travel funding from your country’s cultural agencies or https://princeclausfund.org/
Accommodation is in tents in a desert camp, meals are delicious and both are free.
We offer limited financial support for material needed and limited transport for that. Bear in mind that Stonehenge is 130km away from the nearest shop, so any material needs should be planned well in advance.
Pick-ups from and drop-offs at Cape Town airport, 5h away, can be organized.

Copyright

Artists own the copyright to their artworks, however Tankwa Artscape and Tankwa Tented Camp may use images/videos for publication.

Media

Daily Maverick “The Artist’s Way in the Climate Crisis”

General Information

fauna_flora_climate.pdf
geology.pdf
history.pdf
How to find us
Where to stay

Please read information sheet before applying. 2020_practical_info.pdf

Application form: application_2020.pdf

Selectors:

Leli Hoch, organiser, land artist, Stanford, WC
Kim Goodwin, land artist, Goodwin Foundry, Howick, KZN
Niel Jonker, sculptor and painter, Baardskeerdersbos, WC
Ledelle Moe, Sculpture Department, University of Stellenbosch
Simon Max Bannister, sculptor and land artist, New Zealand
JP de Villiers, Stonehenge Private Reserve, NC

“Artist in Residence South Africa” NPO AiRSA 243-824

Below is a link to Hello World, an international project, where artists throughout the world have submitted art works to share with all of us. We hope you enjoy this gesture of goodwill and solidarity from our colleagues around the globe.
HELLO WORLD