Stemming from the concern that many creative ideas, projects and exhibitions are currently being stifled, dominated, rejected, destroyed or abandoned due to a number of complex forces at work, Foxhole has been initiated to locate a more functioning application of ‘the social’ as it relates to the art world—specifically: the world of an independent curator. Foxhole intends to be a designated space to generate solutions to a seemingly flawed sense of community, renegotiating questionable spheres as they appear to overlap—or do not. If a ‘good’ community and support network for and of independent curators does not currently exist in a specific locale, what steps should be taken to create it, find it or break the cycle of pretense?
If the social is both destroyed by what produces it (the media, information) and reabsorbed by what it produces (the masses), it follows that its definition is empty, and that this term which serves as universal alibi for every discourse, no longer analyzes anything, no longer designates anything. Not only is it superfluous and useless—wherever it appears it conceals something else: defiance, death, seduction, ritual, repetition—it conceals that it is only abstraction and residue, or even simply an effect of the social, a simulation and an illusion.1
This project embodies the search for a useful, energetic nexus of ready and willing independent curators; Foxhole aspires to create a less insular yet trusted DIY work zone where both invited and interested independent curators periodically unite with a mutual understanding that their developing ideas will be preserved and cultivated in this safe zone. A Foxhole, by definition (paraphrased), is a shelter, place of refuge or concealment against conflicting forces. This particular Foxhole is designated for independent curators—a constraint which strives to better serve and commit to its targeted individuals.
This community-oriented initiative revolves around an inquiry into ‘solidarity’2—mechanical, contractual, spontaneous and organic. Foxhole hopes to locate more effective techniques to assist independent curators with increased frequency. Foxhole depends less upon established institutional frameworks and more upon a self-organized network of local curators possessing both individual and collective intentions. One enters the Foxhole to both expand upon their practice and exercise self-sufficiency. Foxhole ambitions follow:
» to strengthen creative connections between local, independent curators for specific sites (current focus: Stockholm)
» to provide a reliable network of independent curators open to collaboration and experimentation
» to create an alternative platform for brainstorming, troubleshooting and knowledge building
» to formulate new threads and developing ideas
» to join and locate resources and additional collaborators
Foxhole is currently in collaboration with Minibar Artist Space—an alternative venue serving as the primary hub and starting point for meetings and additional initiatives between and amongst independent curators, curatorial groups and DIY organizers. All Foxhole happenings are open to the public (feel free to stop by and introduce yourself!), but only curators, invited artists and guest speakers are personally invited. For additional details or to express your interest in contributing to Foxhole: info [at] valeveil [dot] se
About the Venue
Minibar Artist Space is a non-profit project based exhibition space for contemporary art located in Vasastan, Stockholm, Sweden. It is run and curated by artists Malin Henningsson, Sofia M. Westin and Anna Sagström. Minibar is created as a platform for presenting short-time exhibitions, collaborations ting short-time exhibitions, collaborations and other art-related projects of and other art-related projects of all media. The short exhibition periods are used as a tool to re-strategize the principle elements of the exhibition format. It opens a sense of spontaneity, complexity and optimism that is at the core of the Minibar philosophy. Regardless of medium, Minibar wishes to occupy the interstices of contemporary art practices with this attitude.
Note: Foxhole functions to support smaller groups, therefore meetings and events will be structured accordingly (e.g. more than one Foxhole may simultaneously exist yet at different times, dates or venues). This decision supports the sentiment that participating curators may not reap benefits if there are too many in the Foxhole at any given time. Foxhole promotes a personalized approach to collaboration and hopes to give those in the Foxhole ample time and space to focus.
Previous Speakers: Anna Nordström, Mirko Lempert, Ami Kohara, Nicola Bergström Hansen, Ulrika Sparre, Aura Seikkula, Kristoffer Svenberg, Emily Breunig, Angela Mi Young Hur, Adnan Mahmutović, Eskil Loftsson, Jen Lindblad, Carola Grahn, Elina Suoyrjö, Carl-Johan Rosén, Klas Eriksson, Simon Mullan, Linnéa Sjöberg, Isis Marina Graham, Nathalie Fougeras, Anastasia Ax, Jacqueline Hoang Nguyen, Adam Grinovich, Annika Pettersson, Jessika Björhn, Shiva Anoushirvani, Laurie Charles, Carl Palm, Tobias Sjöberg, Franziska Bork Petersen, Jussi Koitela, Sofia Mavroudis, Jacob Dahlgren.
valeveil is currently taking submissions for this project.
1. Jean Baudrillard, In the Shadow of the Silent Majorities (New York, NY : Semiotext(e), 1983), 66.
2. Émile Durkheim, The Division of Labor in Society (New York, NY : The Free Press, 1984), 31-175.