RHWNT
WALES - QUEBEC EXCHANGE

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Author: Guy Sioui Durand, Québec
Translation: Julie Bacon

Performance art practice over the decades has often been predicated on the notion of meetings: contact and exchange. This process has lead to international networks of artists that form fluid amalgams and menaeouvres in and around existing art systems exemplified in dominant culture. Performance artworks often identified as time based or ephemeral activities are always temporary and often influenced by the place and the time in which they occur. As such they draw our attention to the very nature and process of art making and the connection or exchange made in the moment of the encounter.

RHWNT, literally meaning 'Between' in Welsh, is offered as a significant encounter between artists, writers and teachers from different cultural backgrounds. It is through contact and exchange that these practitioners have affirmed a collective affirmation of similarity. The unique identity of Wales and it¹s language within the UK, the colonial legacy and contentious economies of exchange embedded in it's history has a significant correlation with Quebec. Furthermore the formation of performance art collectives, art run centres and initiatives is the foundation of much of contemporary artistic culture in Cardiff and Quebec City.

RHWNT, organised as a collaborative exchange between Trace, Installaction Artspace in Cardiff and Le Lieu, Centre en Art Actuel, in Quebec will take place throughout 2003-2004.

Both orgnisations were set up to explore intersections between artistic disciplines. Both artist run centres locate their discourse within the dissemination of contemporary art practice that seeks to place emphasis on context, process, network and exchange. Their focus can be interpreted as primarily performative - to explore the previously unconsidered ways of 'thinking' and 'doing' offered by time based art and work that emerges from this activity - performance, installation, sonic and interactive arts.

Artistic directors of Trace; André Stitt & Le Lieu; Richard Martel, have selected emerging artists from both communities to present live and installed work in two major events.

In October 2003 Quebec artists will be presented at Trace, Chapter Arts Centre and specific sites in Cardiff. The event will be augmented by two educational exchanges between Cardiff School of Art & Design, Concordia University, Montreal and Cicoutimi University, Quebec. A critic/writer from each city will also take part to create a commentary on the event and to further contextualize the issues and debates that arise from the meetings.
In September 2004 a similar event will take place in Quebec representing Welsh artists. This will include work at Le Lieu Centre en Art Actuel, sites throughout the city of Quebec and the Sequence Gallery in Chicoutimi. Education exchanges will occur throughout 2003-2004.

RHWNT Quebec Programme - Cardiff October 2003
Thursday 9th Oct.
18.00/19.30- Trace Gallery
Performance/Installaction
James Partaik
20.00- Chapter Art Centre
Videos & Documentations exhibition
Launch Party - Chapter upstairs bar + DJs

Friday 10th Oct.
Day- City Centre
Site Specific performance
Claudine Cotton
8.00 - Chapter Theatre
Video programme + 2 performances by :
Les Fermiéres Obsédées
Martin Dufrasne & Carl Bouchard

Saturday 11th Oct.
Day- City Centre
Site Specific performance
Claudine Cotton
Afternoon - Chapter Cinema 2
Quebec Video + discussion
8.00 - Chapter Theatre
Video Programme + 2 performances by :
Les Fermiéres Obsédées
Christian Messier

Trace: James Partaiks installation will be open 2.00-6.00pm Fri-Sun. Then at weekends until 26th Oct.

Quebec Education Exchange:
Michael Le Chance, Chicoutimi. Ingrid Bachman, Concordia, Montreal
Quebec Writers Exchange: Guy Sioui Durand
Quebec Publications rep. Nathalie Perreault, Inter Magazine
Quebec Director/Curator: Richard Martel

RHWNT Welsh Programme - Quebec City Sept. 2004
Thurday
Opening - short actions/video
Friday
Evening - Le Lieu: 2 performances: Eddie Ladd, Richard Morgan
Saturday
Day/Evening - Lot Fleuric : Phil Babot - City Centre Underpass 2-7pm
Day/Evening - Le Lieu : Eve Dent - Le Lieu Basement 2-7pm
Evening - Lot Fleuric ; 2 performances; Matt Cook, Simon Mitchell + video programme & DJs.
Sunday
Afternoon - Le Lieu: Video+ discussion
Evening - Le Lieu: Food & Party

RHWNT Welsh Programme - Chicoutimi Sept. 2004
Sequence Gallery: Paul Granjon - Exhibition/Installation

Welsh Education Exchange: Paul Granjon, Ella Gibbs, Cardiff School of Art & Design
Welsh Writers Exchange: Heike Roms
Welsh Director/Curator: André Stitt

RHWNT is supported by Wales Art International, Quebec Government Office in London, City of Quebec, Canadian High Commission, London, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff & Cardiff School of Art & Design, UWIC, Cardiff.