How did I apply for Hangarorg studios? 3/3
First of all I would like to make quite clear, that this post is following my personal values in the professional world of open code and transparency which I SHARE with Hangar.org
My strategies to grow as a connected artist, a helpful content strategist and an authentic person in this world are based on insistence, desire and transparency.
Which makes me vulnerable of course to make mistakes, be slow and constantly doubtful about the veracity of my longings.
Right after this I would also like to insist that I am enormously grateful for all the support and the trust I received as well in the past as nowadays by many, many people.
Being a "self-taught " person without academic background I might have suffered from lack of confidence every once in a while, whether being a "real" artist.
That is not really fair from my part toward the people that taught me during all these years.
I am not SELF taught! I learn from other(s).
And I know I will learn a lot at my new residency at HANGAR.org.
I am very PROUD and HAPPY to be a selected artist in residence at HANGAR studios for a 2 year period.
The HANGAR studios are one of the artistic research and production centers for contemporary art in Barcelona. Financed both from private and public funding.
Vacancies in their residencies are quite wanted.
Every year, 7 artists become selected for the 30 squaremeter, sized studios and the access to all kinds of media, tools, workshops, consulting, communication spaces and other professional opportunities.
I started to explore the Barcelona art scene 4 years ago. Since than I applied EVERY year as well as to many other supporting organizations around the world.
During 2 years I would be disappointed to see that I wasn't selected anywhere. Than I changed the chip.
During that time I worked out loads of artistic projects anyway.
Alone, with others, by others.
I sure made myself seen in the small Barcelona art world. By 2014 my name would at least sound familiar.
What did it meant to me to change the attitude?
I did not try anymore to sound academic. I was so “respectful” before the written word, that I often missed to be myself.
So I started to write the same way I talked - and focus on being CLEAR and SHORT.
Of course I applied writing techniques I learned during the years but I didn't change the "tone" anymore.
The year 2015 started with 2 applications. One to Barcelona Producció and one to Hangar.org
Both of them were written in my OWN words. For the first time I didn't try to sound academic.
BCN Producció selected other projects.
Than arrived the invitation to the pre-selection talk of HANGAR. I was flashed.
What happened during that talk?
Physically I was extremely nervous. I smelled bad and was near to fainting - low blood pressure :)
Seriously! But I ENJOYED that! It was physical - it was real.
Since I didn't want them to think that I always smell like a horse I told them I was nervous at the very beginning
and also that I know I shouldn't be.
I used this literally fluent energy to talk sincerely and open.
I wanted to ask THEM a lot of things. But of course they wanted to ask ME.
The first questions would gather around my work. Which comforted me a lot, since me and my work are very good friends and it's easy to talk about something you love.
The most interesting question though was:
"How would you see yourself AFTER the 2 years of residency at Hangar?"
GREAT question! I would love to be able to look ahead for the term of 2 years, something I would love to learn! So far, my plans go until November (which is quite an achievement)
Anyway I answered that I would enjoy knowing that I had given more visibility to Hangar, the artists I am planning to work with and through this ALSO to myself.
Two days later their answer was YES.
