W E E K L Y M U S I N G SNetherlands, Week 1, 2012
CPS Periodical #1 ,
The vessel, the chamber, On having a studio space (or not),
My ‘contribution’; Word count: 501
Open letter to the CPS group,
There is something that I would like to get of my chest. This could be a bit difficult, since at times there is a form of hostility in our Critical and Pedagogical studies group. So let me first start of by saying that I have respect for you as individuals and artists and that I see something wonderful in each one of you. You are part of my learning experience here at Malmö Art Academy and your remarks and questions and different standpoints during my MFA Critical Studies and Pedagogical studies-classes I highly appreciate. Because it enhances my own point of view and way of looking and in my opinion the more viewpoints the more deep knowledge on a subject/object can go.
What makes me write this letter is the current green paper hanging on the outside of the door, crossing the words ‘Critical Studies’ and now saying ‘Clitoris study buds’. When ‘Clitoris study buds’ was mentioned after one of our feminist classes I in fact also had to laugh, I thought it was a funny word twist. But immediate after I laughed I felt that it was disrespectful to our fellow male peers and (invisibly) I felt ashamed. And now to my dismay this verbal joke has been put as a label on the outside of the door of our shared CPS room, with no names from who(m) it is from. With the result that students, teachers, staff and visitors in the school could think we from CPS are naming ourselves ‘clitoris study buds’. This I personally reject.
Also to me this note is demeaning the MFA Critical Studies and Pedagogical studies that I signed up for. I have to and want to work hard for this Study, and this forced buddy group bonding works aversive for me. Deconstructing this note in my mind I wonder if it could be that this marking is about territory or power? Because then there is something else I want to add. This sign makes me conscious that this common space is e v e r y b o d i e s and thus also my working space. In the first semester most of the times I worked in the edit room or at home because I could not concentrate and work in the CPS space.
And now having holidays and being back in the Netherlands and being around loved ones I see it more clear. This is voluntary adult education, I see you as my peers, which I want to respect and learn something from. My suggestion for our common workspace would be that we create a shared room where everyone respects each other. That means if you want to put signs, marks, communication or other forms of communication on the outside of the door the sign it with your own name(s).
You can call me if you want to talk about it, my skype is; kimengelen
Thank you for your attention.
Kind regards,
Kim
- Current screening/exposition:
- 22 Jan 2012: BOYB, stpln:s lokaler, producers Lina Linde and Kristian Nihlén, Malmö/Sweden, Website»
- 15 Oct 2011 - 8 Jan 2012: Fonlad - the On Line Festival for Digital Arts, presents at the Non Biennale twelve videos hand made by phones, curator: José Vieira, view»
- Read:
- Nomad: From Islam to America: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations, 2010
- Nahed Selim, Allah houdt niet van vrouwen (Allah does not love women), 2007
- Expo-visits: MOTI, Breda/Netherlands, see pics»
0100101110101101.org, Life Sharing, 2000-2003
