Concept Nelson Gonzalez, Aruba Invited Artists Patrick Thompson, Netherlands Tuesday Irwin, Aruba Andre le Grand, Aruba
Introduction: For some time, I have been motivated to do an oral history project, but this opportunity never presented it self until a couple of weeks ago. I have the pleasure to take part in a documentary on oral history in Aruba with Patrick Thompson. Whose production will soon be available to the public. The oral history documentary Method motivates me, for it is the most direct means of revisiting the existing memory, while at the same time dealing with several objective aspects from the subjectivity of each individual telling the story. It is at this point where I connect as a contemporary artist. Milk Drops is a multi disciplinary art project which wishes to highlight historical passages of the Dutch Caribbean into several chapters. Today I present only the first... I approach you with the intention of observing this project as a means to recapture the collective memory, through the methods and media which the contemporary art offers; which generates a work in process and leaves as a final result several methods of diffusion of this material: Video, Photography, Poetry & Music. I and my fellow artists invite the the Commission, evaluating this project, to connect with us and to join our creative process. A wonderful journey into forest of history, where we take charge of reviving it by means of the contemporary art...
Concept: I am deeply fascinated with some ritual chapters in the history of the Caribbean after the time of slavery. Some of these include: *The conservation of the umbilical cord. *The bad eye. *The protections. There are a multitude of stories and anecdotes converted to rituals, which by means of the oral communication, mixed with the practice, remain present in our contemporary culture. In this case, a first edition which I named Milk Drops, consists of the recreation of the breast feeding of white children by black mothers, by also including the reverse: white mothers feeding black children. This is the artistic performance with the intention to create a magical act of racial integration, which remains very present in Curacao. The concept is to create profound situations in the society through the historic daily rituals and to show the world an example, from a geographical area, which has surpassed racial resentment. The idea of the Actual Art is to create and document social nexuses.
Description/Plan: Definition: Multi disciplinary Art project. Idea- Concept- Design- Art direction-foto/video: Nelson Gonzalez Photography- Video- Audio: Patrick Thompson Text- Reflexion- Thoughts- Poetry: Tuesday Irwin Musical edition- Text translation: Andre Le Grand Starting point. Oral Archive Date- collected by the guides of the Tula Museum, Landhuis Kenepa, Curacao. About breast feeding by slaves to the children of their masters. Public open call of mothers and children in the feeding period, to be a part of the performance. By means of: Social media, press releases, concerned funds, radio, etc... Plans to receive help from; Communication media in Aruba and Curacao, Tula Museum. The organizational management of Landhuis Kenepa, as well as the required documentation. Contact the cultural direction of Curacao to ask for documentation of African lullabies (This organisation has a program of Oral Archive for the last 7 years). Description of the performance: Mothers breast feeding children (their own children and others). Location: Deposits of Landhuis Kenepa, Curacao. Duration: three hours Post Production: Design and printing of a catalog book consisting of text, illustrations and photography from the work of the group of artists, and general information. Dissemination of project in Social Media (Face Book, You Tube, Internet sites, etc.)
Locations Landhuis Kenepa, Curacao.