Conversation with The Nomadic Department of the Interior

Caches From the Landscape - photo of a youngster on a hill

Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025

Time: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Language: In English

Admission: Free

 

 

A CONVERSATION WITH THE ARTISTS OF THE NOMADIC DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

The Centre des arts actuels SKOL is delighted to announce an exceptional public conversation with artists Ann Chen, Yutong Lin, Yufeng Zhao (in person), and Leon Eckert (via videoconference), members of the art collective The Nomadic Department of the Interior. This unique event will take place the weekend following the opening of their first solo exhibition, titled CACHES FROM THE LANDSCAPE / 风物缓存 / CE QUE CACHENT LES MONTAGNES.

In this open discussion, the artists will explore the core ideas underpinning their collaborative practice and the major themes addressed in their exhibition. They will share their perspectives on how their work examines the complex relationships between landscape, technology, and cultural memory, particularly within the context of the Guizhou province, in southwest China.

The dialogue will highlight the tensions between past and present, natural and industrial, as well as the contradictions inherent in the rapid transformations of this region. How are the mountains, carriers of millennia-old memories, redefined by modern infrastructures such as the data centers of the “Big Data Valley”? What narratives emerge from this layering of temporalities and spaces?

During the conversation, the four artists will discuss their collective working methods, which include video, photography, and printed textiles, to capture the hidden stories within Guizhou’s landscapes. They will also delve into their collaborative approach, their field research, and their artistic process, while sharing anecdotes about the personal inspirations that fuel their work.

Enriched with visual excerpts and conceptual references, this participatory discussion will offer the audience an in-depth understanding of the artistic and social issues explored by The Nomadic Department of the Interior. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in direct dialogue with the artists, further enhancing their experience of the exhibition.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to meet the members of this international collective. This event is open to all and free of charge. We look forward to welcoming you for this stimulating and inspiring exchange. Refreshments will be served. Our bar will be also open for the day.