Last week, I had the pleasure of chairing a symposium at FOCUS Art Fair, featuring three artists: Aurélien Lepetit, Belén Santamarína and Yu Mei Huang.
In our conversation, we explored the use of everyday objects, textiles and artisanal techniques to inform and express narratives of cultural displacement, identity and techno-politics.
We delved into their research processes, ranging from individual and intimate work with human hair (Belén Santamarína), to the exploration of technology and its relationship with the body (Aurélien Lepetit), and outward-looking research into local artisanal techniques to be reinterpreted (Yu Mei Huang).
I have chaired a few panels so far, and an artist panel was an unusual experience for me. Nonetheless, I found myself connected with very familiar topics in the study of material culture, and the meanings conveyed through materials and forms.
While speaking with Aurélien, Belén and Yu Mei, I felt there were so many topics worth exploring further, such as the value of time, heritage and memory. Despite the distinctive perspectives of each artist, there was also so much they had in common.
One idea that stayed with me was that of hair or yarn as expressions of continuity and process, in contrast with computing and digital data, which make information permanent.
A big thank you to the organisers for having me, and to the artists for making me reconnect so deeply with material culture.