We're delighted to introduce you to Jon Drypnz, speaking at the first OSHA talk taking place on October 7th. Jon will share his recent experience in Ukraine, where he took part in art festival, Black Circle.
Last month, Wellington based artist Jon Drypnz was invited to participate in the 6th edition of the Black Circle Festival in Ukraine. Black Circle operates more like a discreet gathering of multidisciplinary artists, cooks, and musicians than a festival. The congregation of artists occurs annually in isolated areas around Ukraine, utilising abandoned buildings and ruins. To participate, one must be invited by other artists already involved in the gathering. This exclusivity is emphasised by the lack of audience and publicity surrounding the event, even the artist’s interactions are dappled with a mild reticence. Indeed, the gathering focuses primarily on the collective living together and surviving in remote isolated conditions. The experience appears more like an artistic retreat, where participants can enrich their practice through this shared sense of societal solitude and artistic stimulation.
Last month, Wellington based artist Jon Drypnz was invited to participate in the 6th edition of the Black Circle Festival in Ukraine. Black Circle operates more like a discreet gathering of multidisciplinary artists, cooks, and musicians than a festival. The congregation of artists occurs annually in isolated areas around Ukraine, utilising abandoned buildings and ruins. To participate, one must be invited by other artists already involved in the gathering. This exclusivity is emphasised by the lack of audience and publicity surrounding the event, even the artist’s interactions are dappled with a mild reticence. Indeed, the gathering focuses primarily on the collective living together and surviving in remote isolated conditions. The experience appears more like an artistic retreat, where participants can enrich their practice through this shared sense of societal solitude and artistic stimulation.
In this talk Jon will explore the connection between the communal experience and artistic enrichment, highlighting the way the temporary occupation of abandoned buildings and their transformation through art provides a unique experience, both social and communal, which is essential to this artistic practice. Jon will also elaborate on a critical perspective of the institutionalisation of art, focusing on the capabilities that discreet, underground communities have in providing a subversive space - subsequently facilitating the production of creative work, free from institutional influence and constraints.
Jon was born in Portsmouth, England and lived in different places around the world before migrating to New Zealand in 2004. Since 2005, Jon’s practice has had a focus on exterior wall painting created under the name Jon Drypnz. These wall paintings strongly influence his studio practice, which focuses on the exploration of surface and medium in a multidisciplinary manner. The current direction of Jon’s work is defined by his transient past as well as an understanding of his present surroundings.
Our first OSHA talk has limited capacity so to hear Jon's talk, be sure to RSVP via email to: [email protected].