Homelands
‘Homelands’ is a visual and media arts community residency project, initiated by ISIS Arts, taking place in the North East region over a three-year period, and includes residencies in the UK for regional and international artists linking to our Diaspora communities.
‘Homelands’ is exploring ideas surrounding home, migration and a collective sense of belonging. The project supports a shared cultural language of expression promoting a better mutual understanding, helping to support people to express a strong sense of identity, and arm them with confidence and tools to combat prejudice.
In this first year we were delighted to work with North East based Slovakian artist Zuzana Hruskova and Marek Šulík, a filmmaker based in Bratislava. They worked closely with families from the Slovak/Czech Roma community in the west end of Newcastle.
VIDEO-LETTERS & PHOTO-LETTERS
Between May and July 2011, Zuzana and Marek created video and photo letters. Working in Benwell, Newcastle and various areas of Slovakia theydocumented Roma families recording messages in the form of videos, photographs, handwritten letters, audio recordings which were carefully delivered from migrant families based in the UK to relatives back in Slovakia. Responses were then filmed and the process was repeated. The project has opened many unexpected doors, reconnecting relatives who haven't spoken for years, bringing together a man with the young girl who once saved his life and prompting an entire family to set off on a road trip from Newcastle to Slovakia.
Both artists are in the process of collecting and delivering material in the UK and Slovakia simultaneously: an exhibition of the work produced by both artists will be held in Newcastle in 2012.
Benene Story, 2011, Newcastle upon Tyne & Slovakia
(TOP: The Message from Bebene, UK -
BELOW: The message from Maria pictured with her sister, Slovakia, May/June 2011)
Zuzana Hruskova
“I was born 17th April 1977 in a hospital in Trstena, Slovakia, approximately 10 km from the Slovak/Polish customs. I am living and working in Newcastle upon Tyne. Working across photography, narrative & written systems and other art forms I participate regularly in international and national events. I am closely involved with Roma communities settled in Newcastle and beyond.
My work isn’t about capturing for the sake of hope. I do not try to envisage the immortal of information, not at all. To me, camera or any lens-based medium embodies the approximation. It doesn’t allow me entering the subject completely - it only allows me to de-composite peoples privacy, sociality, etc.
I also think it is great to analyse for the sake of world, beauty or self-recreation. The image-culture same as the viewers need facing different realities from those they already occupy. Fortunately, people always want to know what the truth is and documentary work supplies us with that. I make narrations to defend myself and many times, I go among people to be alone.”
Marek Šulík
Marek Šulík was born 1974 in Žilina, Czechoslovakia. He graduated from the Academy of Music and Dramatic Artsin Bratislava. In 2005 he was awarded the ZENTIVA award for young filmmakers at the international film festival FEBIOFEST, Bratislava. Through his work, which centres on the social documentary, he often collaborates with non-governmental organisations. He collaborates on projects as a director and editor. He teaches documentary film making on Academy of Music and Dramatic Artsin Bratislava and works as a lecturer on film workshops.In June 2011 his latest production was premiered at Sheffield Doc Fest.
Homelands is supported by Northern Rock Foundation, Newcastle City Council and the ‘Make Your Mark’ fund.
