Author: Bettina Pelz
Asma Hassouna
STATEMENT
In the newly-born Tunisian cultural scene, SEE DJERBA is considered as one of the most important artistic initiatives undertaken by Tunisian civil society actors (COLLECTIF-CREATIF; Ijou Gdena: a local collective; and several local associations from Djerba). The project has witnessed many challenges: First, the organization of the event, which was based only on volunteer’s work, seemed to be a success. Indeed, we can easily feel the dynamism and the enthusiasm of the team through the activities ran. Then, the international melting-pot spirit was felt through the presence of international artists subtly integrated into the splendid “Houmet Essouk”. They were in regular contact with locals who appreciated sharing with them this unique experience and the hope for the development of cultural activities in Tunisia. Finally, the event seemed to have taken place as the team hoped, offering to visitors the opportunity to live an exceptional moment blending the beauty of Art and Djerba’s medina.
SEE DJERBA TASKS
[1] SEE DJERBA Round Table : Culture of Democracy
FOCUS
Asma is a consultant who advices and coachs national and international NGOs (non-governmental organizations) to implement their social projects and to evaluate their achievements in order to improve their performance. Her expertise is in human resources and project management.
DEVELOPPMENT
2016 – 2017 | Training in professional and personal coaching | High school of coaching (certification CNRP 1)
2012 – 2014 | Master 2 Economics and Psychology | La Sorbonne Paris 1 and University Paris Descartes Paris 5 | Paris (Fr)
2008 – 2011 | Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Management | Faculty of Economics and Management | Toulouse (Fr)
LINKS
turning on the light
Breakfast was served early in the morning, and on the terrace, few artists and organizing members are looking for shade and morning breeze, sheltered from the generous rays of the Tunisian sun. Smiles and greetings in all languages made the atmosphere heart-warming. Artists who had just arrived took advantage of the morning to discover the neighborhood and to find their places of inspiration to spread their “lights” during the seven days to come.
Meanwhile, the organizing team was busy setting the final touches to the preparations of the workshops. At lunchtime, a popular fast-food restaurant near Haj Hsen café was unanimously chosen, given the generosity of its dishes and spicy blends and full of character meals cooked with vegetables, eggs, and harissa.
At 4 pm, the three scheduled workshops began with a young audience that absorbed the words of Kurt Laurenz Theinert, Neda Pouryekta, Bettina Pelz, and Aymen Gharbi. New horizons opened in the minds of the participants, some were intrigued, others convinced and others disturbed by the number of internal questions raised. The sessions closed after 7 pm in good spirits, each one came out with a new idea, an answer, a question, or a new meaning to something.
Discussions continued during the dinner to leave late evening to the presentations of the artists. It was a moment of relaxation and pleasure to see different works of light art: laser installations, mapping, voice-to-light converters, etc. A flow of images and videos, conveying beauty and magic and particularly strong messages or futuristic and fun ideas. All the reasons to turn off all the lights in your room and illuminate those of your mind to create beautiful dreams.
Le petit déjeuner fut servi tôt le matin, et dans la terrasse s’éparpillaient quelques artistes et des membres organisateurs à la recherche d’ombre et de brise matinale, à l’abri du flux généreux du soleil tunisien. Des sourires et des bonjours formulés dans toutes les langues rendaient l’atmosphère chaleureuse.
Les artistes, fraichement débarqués, ont profité de la matinée pour découvrir les quartiers aux alentours et dénicher leurs lieux de prédilection pour y répandre leurs lumières durant les sept jours à venir. Pendant ce temps, l’équipe organisatrice s’activaient pour régler les dernières retouches des préparations des ateliers, notamment le ravitaillement de toute personne participante.
A l’heure du déjeuner, un fast-food de cuisine populaire près du café « Haj Hsen » fut élu par la majorité écrasante vu la générosité de ses plats et des mélanges piquants et plein de caractères à base de légumes, œuf et harissa.
Seize heures, les trois ateliers programmés commencèrent avec un jeune public qui absorbait les paroles de Kurt Laurenz Theinert, Neda Pouryekta et Bettina Pelz. Des chemins nouveaux s’ouvraient dans les esprits des participants, les uns étaient intrigués, les autres convaincus et d’autres perturbés par le nombre de questions intérieures soulevées. Les sessions se sont clôturées à 19h dans la bonne humeur, chacun sortait avec une idée nouvelle, une réponse, une question ou un nouveau sens à quelque chose.
Les discussions se poursuivaient durant le dîner pour laisser place en fin de soirées aux présentations des artistes. Ce fut un moment de détente et de plaisir que de voir des travaux différents sur la lumière : des installations lasers, au mapping, aux convertisseurs de voix en lumière, etc. Un flux d’images et de vidéos diverses, comportant la beauté et la magie et surtout la transmission de messages forts ou d’idées futuristes ou amusantes. De la matière pour éteindre toutes les lumières de ta chambre et illuminer celles de l’esprit pour faire de beaux rêves.
they’re coming…
Some say that we reach the ultimate wealth when we share our differences … Well, I mean, it is me who say that :). It was an end of a day full of emotions, encounters, and exchanges … priceless. Early in the morning, our great hospitality team welcomed the artists at the airport, to make sure that they did not lack anything, without forgetting the small words of welcome concocted by Salma on the fruit’s packages.
The program was woven during the day as a well-crafted spider web to start at 6 pm with the opening of SEE DJERBA at the Farid Ghazi Culture House in Houmt Souk. An ambitious project aimed at directing Tunisia’s precious human capital towards activities with added value, such as artistic fields, through the establishment of an efficient and reliable organizational process. Seriously, it’s all of that 🙂 … But the atmosphere was very warm, the temperature reached 35°C … But with such positive energy that we forget quickly the small overflows of the weather.
Around the dinner, prepared with love, by Mongi and Afifa, the parents of Aymen, Amin, and Imen, the ingredients of a good international ratatouille blended together to reveal a new fragrance with heart notes drawn from openness, tolerance, and art.
All the colors and haircuts were present on joyful heads wandering among the artists, organization teams, and participants exchanging about art, funny little cultural details, and getting to know each other. The effervescence of the discussions reached its height when the hour of the night walk was announced. Six groups guided by Djerbian young people dispersed in Houmt Souk, in search of historical monuments and special unusual places. The night spread out its veil to leave only a few lights on the beach bordering the tower of Mustapha Ghazi … And the six thousand Spanish soldiers exterminated rolled in the dark looking for their head until dawn.
_____________
On dit que la richesse ultime réside dans le partage de la différence…..Enfin, c’est moi qui dis ça :). Ce fut une fin de journée très riche en émotions, en rencontres et en échanges…D’une valeur inestimable.
Tôt le matin, notre superbe équipe d’hospitalité a été aux petits soins pour accueillir les artistes à l’aéroport, s’assurer qu’ils ne manquaient de rien, sans oublier les petits mots de bienvenue concoctés par Salma sur les paquets de fruits.
Le programme se tissait au cours de la journée comme une toile d’araignée bien ficelée pour commencer à 18h avec l’ouverture de SEE DJERBA à la maison de la culture Farid Ghazi à Houmet Souk. Un projet ambitieux visant à orienter le précieux capital humain dont regorge la Tunisie vers des activités ayant de la valeur ajoutée, telles que les domaines artistiques, à travers l’établissement d’un processus organisationnel efficace et fiable.
C’est sérieux, tout ça :)…toujours est-il que l’ambiance était très chaleureuse, ce qui a fait grimper encore plus le mercure déjà établi aujourd’hui à 35°C….Mais avec une telle énergie positive on oublie rapidement les petits débordements de la météo.
Autour du dîner, préparé avec amour, par les parents de Aymen & Amin Gharbi, les ingrédients d’une bonne ratatouille internationale se mélangeaient pour dégager une nouvelle fragrance aux notes de cœur puisées dans l’ouverture, la tolérance et l’art.
Toutes les couleurs et coupes de cheveux étaient présentes sur des têtes joyeuses se baladant entre les artistes, les équipes d’organisations et les participants échangeant sur l’art, les petits détails culturels amusants et faisaient connaissance.
L’effervescence des discussions atteignit son comble lorsque l’heure des marches nocturnes fut annoncée. Six groupes guidés par des jeunes de l’île se dispersaient à Houmet Souk, en quête de monuments historiques et d’endroits spéciaux insolites. La nuit étalait son voile pour ne laisser que quelques lumières se dessiner sur la plage bordant la tour de Mustapha Ghazi…Et les six mille soldats espagnols exterminés rodaient dans l’obscurité cherchant leurs tête jusqu’à l’aube.
in the mood for SEE DJERBA
It bubbles up bubbles in Djerba … .The island is invested more and more young people coming from everywhere … Full of energy. Nothing stops them, neither the heat of summer, nor the fatigue. Armed with good djerbian lemonade and local hats “Mdhalla”, they right criss-cross Houmet Souk to launch the event.
Two teams active in associative life and the promotion of art: IJOU GDANA and the INTERFERENCE collective. They exchange and collaborate to make and create the one and only concept “SEE DJERBA”.
Today, it’s time to work, some of them stuck to their PCs to finalize the latest logistical details, others are busy preparing the workshops.
A wave of positive energy is expanding day by day and is being fulfilled to welcome, tomorrow July the 21st, 21 artists from seven countries (Tunisia, Austria, USA, Iran, Germany, Venezuela and Poland).
SEE DJERBA welcomes you with warm heart, join the team, the artists and above all get ready for the good mood, the magic that emanates from the island, artistic inspirations and especially the delicious little delicacies … Maher strongly recommends the “mille feuilles “Of Houmet Souk, he is really addicted to that.
Ça bouillonne ça bouillonne à Djerba….L’île est investie de plus en plus de jeunes de tout part…de véritables boules d’énergie. Rien ne les arrête, ni la grande chaleur de l’été, ni la fatigue. Armés de bonne citronnade djerbienne et de chapeaux locaux « Mdhalla », ils sillonnent Houmet Souk pour lancer l’évènement.
Deux équipes actives dans la vie associative et la promotion de l’art : IJOU GDANA et le collectif d’INTERFERENCE échangent et collaborent pour n’en faire qu’un et créer le concept « SEE DJERBA ».
Aujourd’hui, l’heure est au travail, certains collés à leurs PC pour finaliser les derniers détails logistiques, d’autres s’occupent de la préparation des lieux des workshops.
Une onde d’énergie positive s’agrandit de jour en jour et s’accomplit pour accueillir demain 21 Juillet 21 artistes provenant de sept pays (Tunisie, Autriche, USA, Iran, Allemagne, Venezuela et Pologne).
SEE DJERBA vous ouvre grand les bras, rejoignez l’équipe, les artistes et surtout préparez vous à la bonne humeur, la magie que dégage l’île, les inspirations artistiques et surtout les petites gourmandises succulents….Maher vous conseille vivement les mille feuilles de Houmet Souk, il est carrément accro.
Mohammad Ben Abdallah
Khadija Chamakhi
INFO
SEE DJERBA was an initiative to develop an art-in-context project on the island of Djerba by curators Aymen Gharbi and Bettina Pelz. The experimental first edition paved the way for the SEE DJERBA International Media Art Biennial.
The island Djerba is inscribed in the tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage as of 2012 for its exceptional natural, cultural and historic heritage. The island is known for its diverse community, its values of tolerance and inclusion. The island’s economy is mainly based on tourism, a source of income that needs to be reinforced by alternative initiatives to ensure sustainable development. So far, most of the artistic and cultural activities happening in Djerba are destined for tourism and are implemented by non-local organizations. The idea was to stimulate local initiatives for contemporary art. We wished to develop a temporary format of local interest and open to international participation.
SEE DJERBA took place from 21 July to 4 August 2017 as an international workshop to discuss and to develop an open space for contemporary art, embedded in a dialogic approach with cultural heritage, eco habitats, and natural environments. At the same time, it was a learning environment on contemporary art production, audience development, and project management for about 120 local volunteers joining the activities. It resulted in an exhibition project open to the public on 29/30 July 2017.
Artistic directors Aymen Gharbi and Bettina Pelz were supported by the INTERFERENCE Community, an open collective that developed an international light art project in the Medina of Tunis in 2016. Partly they originated from Djerba and came to Tunis for their studies, Aymen Gharbi is one of them. Some of them were as well part of the IJOU GDENA initiative that became a driving force in the preparation.
Local, national, and international experts on democratic culture, sociocultural processes, sharing heritage, city marketing, and tourism contributed to discussion, training, and experimentation. At the same time, a selection of national and international artists came to Djerba to explore the island, its architecture and heritage, its culture, and its people. All of them shared insights into their artistic research, joined discussions and developed site- or context-specific concepts for artwork. The public presentation of all the artists’ studios and the workshop results took place on 29-30 July 2017. The access to the decentral exhibition was free of charge. About 6.000 visitors came during two nights, mainly locals.
Photos: Brahim Gueddich, joeressen+kessner, Sonja Tautz, Martina Tritthart.
UNIVERSITY OF HILDESHEIM
SHORT DESCRIPTION
The University of Hildesheim is known for its applied teaching. There are four deparments. Department IV Kulturwissenschaften und Ästhetische Kommunikation (Cultural Studies and Aesthetic Communication) is combining science and practice of the arts like music, literatur, fine arts, media and theatre. The Institut of Cultural Policy as part o the Department is stakeholder of the UNESCO Chair Cultural Policy for Arts in Development.
Judith Greitemann
STATEMENT
I am glad to have the opportunity to get different views on the importance of art in social context and to discuss the role of art in societal transformation processes. In this context, I think it´s very exciting to develop strategies and concepts in a theoretical and also a practical way and to implement the concepts in Djerba.
SEE DJERBA CONTRIBUTIONS
(1) Workshop with Jule Kriesel
FOCUS
I take focus on issues of self-expression, self-empowerment and art in public space. By using video and light installations I examine the impact of selfies on the empowerment to create varied and complex self-presentations. I also want to find out more about the projection´s impact on the own image in a public space.
DEVELOPMENT
Since 2015 I am in the bachelor degree of cultural Science and aestethic practical research“ at the university of Hildesheim. My focus of research is media and theatre.
LINKS