Run Artist Run: Artist Run Initiatives

COORDINATOR: Sarah Bond

CURATORS: Katie Lee and Dean Linguey, Mark Feary, David Teh

ARTISTS: Damiano Bertoli, Sue Dodd and Bianca Hester, Katie Lee and Dean Linguey, Ruark Lewis and Jonathon Jones

PARTNERS: 1/2doz., Sydney / a little blah blah, Ho Chi Minh City / Conical Inc, Melbourne / p-10, Singapore / Plastique Kinetic Worms (PKW), Singapore / Ryllega, Hanoi / West Space, Melbourne

run artist run is a series of exhibitions and events taking place in Vietnam and Singapore from June to October 2007. Initiated by Asialink at The University of Melbourne, run artist run acknowledges Australia’s rich and varied history of establishing, supporting and reinventing artist-run initiatives (ARI’s).

The concept of the artist-run initiative has become ‘finely tuned’ in Australia since its ephemeral beginnings in the early 1970s. There are over 80 artist-run initiatives currently operating around Australia While they take many forms, ARIs can be broadly defined as mainly non-profit organisations that provide opportunites for artists outside the establishment, that offer facilities such as exhibition venues, studios, workshops, information and resource centres that are established and maintained on a cooperative basis by groups of artists.

From gallery spaces and public parklands to laneways and bars, the opportunity to exhibit artworks unrestricted by the commercial and public gallery sector, has gained great admiration from artists and the wider cultural community. These often unconventional methods of display have also launched the careers of many of Australia’s most celebrated artists while continuing to foster emerging talents. With such a vibrant history, the ARI scene in Australia remains healthy with many now employing staff and establishing business savvy committees. In recent years there has also been a trend towards exchange and collaboration between ARIs on a local, national and increasingly, an international level.

In acknowledging the successes and strengths of these initiatives, Asialink invited three Australian-based ARI’s, Conical (Melbourne), 1/2doz (Sydney) and West Space (Melbourne) to develop a project in association with a complimentary Asian-based ARI.

Vietnam Intersection 1 - 30 June 2007
Intersection is a project developed by Conical committee member and artist Katie Lee in collaboration with sound artist Dean Linguey. Undertaken in June this sound based project residency is an association with Ryllega Gallery, Hanoi and a little blah blah, Ho Chi Minh City.


Katie Lee, Untitled, 2006		Dean Linguey, we can work it out, 2005

Singapore An Index of Kindness 3 September – 1 October 2007
An Index of Kindness, curated by Dougal Phillips for 1/2doz. is a partnership with P-10, Singapore. The project involves participating artists Ruark Lewis and Jonathon Jones travelling to Singapore to produce (linguistic) site-specific installations and performances throughout September and October.


Ruark Lewis, Banalities for the Perfect House, 2005	Jonathon Jones, White Lines, 2005

Singapore West Space East 11 – 25 October 2007

West Space East is a project developed by West Space in partnership with Plastique Kinetic Worms (PKW) in Singapore. Curator Mark Feary and participating artists Damiano Bertoli, Sue Dodd and Bianca Hester undertake a series of workshops and discussions prior to mounting the exhibition West Space East at PKW in October.


Bianca Hester Repetitions/ Translations: Clogged in Matter 2004-2005		Damiano Bertoli Continuous Moment – New Troll (production still) 2006

		This exhibition toured to Melbourne, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore (2007).
Sue Dodd Gossip Pop (installation view) 2004