VISITING ARTISTS
ArtHouse Jersey welcomes visiting artists from across the world. We provide them with an opportunity to develop their practice, meet and work with local artists while contributing to our programme.
We welcome artists working in all disciplines to join us at our unique home at the Greve de Lecq Barracks on Jersey’s north coast, inviting them to take time to create new work in a tranquil and inspiring setting. The Island has a long history of inspiring artists and writers, with celebrated names such as Victor Hugo and Claude Cahun among its alumni.
Visits often lead to long-lasting, mutually beneficial creative relationships, ones that benefit the artist, whilst contributing to ArtHouse Jersey’s programme and nourishing Jersey’s cultural landscape. Staying with us is generally by invitation only, but if you would like to propose visiting us please contact our Head of Programme, James Tyson, at james@arts.je
A MESSAGE FROM UPCOMING VISITING ARTIST JOSÉ WITTEVEEN
To the Residents of Jersey,
I am excited to share that I will be serving as an artist in residence at ArtHouse Jersey this upcoming winter, from November 18th to December 18th, as part of my project titled "Orlando."
This ongoing artistic venture draws its inspiration from Virginia Woolf's renowned novel, "Orlando," celebrated for its unconventional narrative structure and profound exploration of themes like identity, gender, and the inexorable passage of time. These themes hold great significance in my work.
My artistic process involves the profound act of inviting individuals who are willing to share their personal stories. Thus, I am reaching out to you, hoping that you might be interested in collaborating. I am eager to engage in conversations about your life, your sense of identity, and more. These conversations will ultimately inform and shape my work, resulting in various forms of art, including photography, printmaking, film, and installation.
If you are intrigued by the prospect of participating it would be wonderful to establish a connection before my arrival.
You can reach me via email at josewitteveen@gmail.com, and you can also explore my portfolio on Instagram at josewitteveen and my website at www.josewitteveen.nl.
I look forward to the opportunity to connect with you!
Artist interview with José Witteveen
Tell us about your work as an artist and the type of work you create.
I engage in two distinct forms of art practice. One of them appeals to feelings, another to intelligence, resulting in deeply personal creations that represent fragments of my thoughts. These works often spring from reflections on everyday experiences and snippets of conversations, or are inspired by literature. My other approach is to get the viewer involved and to create empathy, as exemplified by collaborative projects like “Orlando”. Both of these types of art are essential to me. Including printmaking, photography and performance art, my work is an interplay between poetic fragility and a rough aesthetic connected with life in all its vibrancy.
How did ArtHouse Jersey come to your attention as a potential residency destination?
A friend of mine introduced me to ArtHouse Jersey and encouraged me to contact them about my project, Orlando. I was immediately attracted to the prospect of collaborating with ArtHouse Jersey. Upon learning that they too were interested, I was grateful for the opportunity to embark on a period of activity together with them.
During my childhood, I spent a lot of time on an island near my family home. Since then I have been fortunate enough to take part in several residencies on islands, and I have always felt a mysterious magnetic attraction to the unique way in which the people of island communities thrive and interact.
Furthermore, one of the reasons I started working with analogue photography was the profound influence of Claude Cahun's work, and the connection between her life and Jersey has fascinated me for some time. This was another factor motivating me to come to Jersey.
Tell us about Orlando and where the inspiration came from for this work?
The Orlando project derives from Virginia Woolf's novel of the same name, which deeply explores the theme of gender. The author allows her protagonist to change from male to female halfway through the novel, without providing any real explanation or rationalisation. The novel is actually about gender fluidity; in a playful manner, it describes how Orlando is perceived by others after changing gender. The character cannot be confined to the categories of man or woman.
I first encountered this book when I was a teenager, and it had a great impact on me, as I saw myself reflected in its pages. Then, during the period of Covid-19 lockdown a few years ago, I reread it and again it struck a chord deep within me. Nearly 100 years old but perhaps more relevant than ever, Orlando is a queer artwork that was ahead of its time. For me it acts as a catalyst, inspiring me to seek out the contemporary manifestations and incarnations of the title character.
You have appealed to people living in Jersey to come forward and share their experiences with you. What sort of stories are you hoping will come forward?
I am open to all kinds of stories and I don't have any specific expectations. The only important thing for me is that people should feel comfortable, and then who knows what might follow?
Orlando celebrates the liberation of the mind and the ease with which we can discover fluidity in ourselves and in society. For me, this is an obvious thing, but I believe that this idea can be cathartic and empowering for many people
What is the end game for Orlando and how and where will it be shared with the public?
The Orlando project will take various forms and shapes, such as installations, film, photography and printmaking. The resulting artistic creations will then be exhibited. Throughout the collaboration, I will offer insights into the progress of the work on Instagram, revealing the processes involved.
I also plan to host discussions and arrange meetings at which people can see the results of several weeks of collaboration and artistic research. I have already concentrated on this project for several years and my ultimate goal is to compile these works in the form of a book that will encapsulate the essence of the concept of Orlando.
How will you be using your time in Jersey and what are you hoping for your stay here?
I aim to conduct an in-depth investigation into how people perceive their identities, how they envision self-development, how their surroundings play a role in shaping their identity, and how they relate to themselves and others. In fact we contain many mirrored rooms that reflect our different identities.
Throughout this period, I hope to be able to contribute positively to the community, fostering new connections that can serve as a reminder of our shared humanity. It's essential for us to continually recognize the need to understand and respect one another.
