Contemporary artist Ole Ukena talks about the beauty of working intuitively and creating a space for other creatives, in the form of the AIR – Artist Residency, Bali.
Making a space for other creatives is just an extension of the artistic practice. I see artist residencies as more of a social sculpture or long-term installation.
AIR, Artist Residency, Bali
What is the primary role of an artist in society? Tell us about your own personal evolution and your ongoing commitment to arts.
An artist’s role in society is a big question. At the very core, I see him as a magician who expresses what couldn’t be expressed in other ways. Artist are here to seduce, inspire, mirror, digest, predict, criticize. It depends on what kind of an artist you are, but all of us are bringing ideas into the material realm to say things we find meaningful. I evolved from a more conceptual approach to dedicating my days to spend as much time as possible in the flow state as my current works all work with this direct intuitive expression in which I am almost watching myself create the works without interfering.
I am open to all mediums. I’ve worked in sculpture, installation, photography, film and now I’m in a phase where I work mainly with textiles and making spaces for other creatives. It’s a daily practice and at the end of the day, it’s a direct communication between me and the universe and other people can always join this conversation if they’d like to listen. The beauty about working so intuitively is that you look at the studio at the end of the day and are surprised and satisfied, because you didn’t know what kind of plants would grow – all you knew was that you had to show up in the studio and water them. They will grow by themselves over time. That pretty much sums up my art making process currently.
AIR, Artist Residency, Bali
Take us to the beginning of your story. How did your tryst with art begin?
I’ve been drawing since I was a kid – first thing in the morning for hours. Then came Lego. Then building of tree houses. It kinda never stopped for me after that.
At twelve years old, I had a drawing up in my school in some kind of exhibition and a teacher liked it so much, he offered 50 Deutsche Mark to buy it. That’s the first time I understood that it’s actually possible to survive with making art. I remember buying enough chocolate for months, but I ate it in a week instead.
AIR, Artist Residency, Bali
How do you describe yourself in the context of challenging people’s perspectives via your work?
I used to make more conceptual pieces with witty punchlines about the state of the world we live in or whenever I felt I understood something, but eventually I got bored of knowing what the end result would look like.
Now I create much more from my intuition and let the viewer challenge their own process of making sense of it. When you look at the work, it always shifts – it’s still in the process of becoming and you will see and unseen many times.
AIR, Artist Residency, Bali
What were your motivations for offering an artist-in-residence program? What is your expectation from the artists who participate?
Making a space for other creatives is just an extension of the artistic practice. I see artist residencies as more of a social sculpture or long-term installation. You design the space and the framework where ideas and conversations happen. Plus you get to meet other creatives from around the world. What more can I ask for?
AIR, Artist Residency, Bali
What inspires you? Take us through your frameworks and process.
I am inspired by cross pollination. What happens when a musician sits down with a scientist and a photographer and they exchange ideas in a very down-to-earth manner? What happens here is a transfer of knowledge from one field to another which is pretty much how every creative innovation happens. In my own art practice, I find inspiration in music and shapes in nature and in dreams.
AIR, Artist Residency, Bali
What are you looking for when you look at artists’ work?
The artists should ideally have the guts to be themselves. Unapologetically. As humans and creatives. Interest in local culture and Bali in a place, an open mindedness and we prefer not to host annoying stuck up kinda people. They should have an interest in local culture and Bali as a place and an open mind. We are open to all mediums and believe in the intersection between all fields.
AIR, Artist Residency, Bali
Take us through your curatorial process. How do you balance your roles and pursuits?
As it’s a paid residency, it’s pretty anarchistic, who applies and gets through. We make sure the creatives land here with the right mindset. We prefer longer stays especially when we sense the person is self sufficient, with talent, and their heart in the right place.
AIR, Artist Residency, Bali
What moved and inspired you? Tell us about the disappointments. What was the best part of this experience?
At the beginning I wasn’t sure if mixing ‘full-time crowd creatives’ with ‘at-times non-professionals’ is a good thing, but it was the only way we could make it work. Now I see it as a strength as people from different fields can cross pollinate. Seeing people work together is the best part for me.
What are you working on now? What’s coming next season?
I’m opening up another AIR in Bali and other places around the globe. As for my own work, I am working on a whole series of embroidery and textile works for the upcoming exhibitions.
I feel like I have opened a pandora’s box. I am in the middle of a series that has the concept of parallel universes and subconscious decision-making processes as the main narrative. It sounds a bit far out there and, yes, in a way it is, but I’ve never had so much fun.
AIR, Artist Residency, Bali
What are you looking for when you review artists’ applications? What is the application process like?
It’s very informal if you only work from your room. You answer questions and make sure we are on the same page. If you use a big studio, we ask for project details and see if it fits our residency at the moment.
Lets talk about the artists’ arrival and first day of orientation.
Coconut first. The rest will unfold.
Tell us about the place. What was a typical day like?
We usually begin with breakfast together in the big studio. After which our guests work either from their own room or the studio. Sometimes in the evening, we have bonfires or dinner. The rest is open to the artists. We have a list of recommendations for inspiration such as areas with handcrafts or temples.
AIR, Artist Residency, Bali
You have spent a lot of time amongst artists in flow, at their studios. What did you observe?
Every artist is unique in their process of creation. Each one has their own rituals and ways to keep the creative flow going. Some work during the day, others at night. Some wait for ideas to happen, others need to move things around to make ideas appear.
It’s like watching a strange species; each have their own vocabulary and magic spells. I have a lesser idea of what’s actually happening the more I observe. I have noticed that the artists who make things with their hands, and not sit at the screen usually, seem more happy and communicative.
How does your interaction with an artist evolve from the (brief) initial interface, to the working-involvement-relationship?
We don’t get involved in the work process and do give complete autonomy to the artists. We look for artists who are mature enough in their work, but of course if conversations happen, they can always influence or give inspiration.
AIR, Artist Residency, Bali
How do artists balance life and learning in new surroundings amongst new people?
Bali is very easy because it’s just so international and people are generally in a great mood and smile a lot. The local culture is rich and very open and fun and yet deeply rooted in spirituality. Bali just gently sucks you in.
The beginning of the end: The final show, presentation?
We don’t have a gallery attached. We sometimes link galleries to artists if they might be a match. Otherwise we are more focused on production. But we do aim to have exhibition spaces in the future.
AIR, Artist Residency, Bali
Anything to share about the debriefing and departure?
Coconuts! And the rest will follow. Of course we are always eager to hear feedback, so we can learn and improve.
Airbud Website. Ole Ukena’s Website & Instagram
Before you go – you might like to browse our Artist Interviews. Interviews of artists and outliers on how to be an artist. Contemporary artists on the source of their creative inspiration.