Cuarentena Volumes is abbreviated as cv: “these times might become a dent in the curriculum vitae, allowing to focus on the work itself.” Part of "Learning from COVID19: Reflections on knowledge-related commons and practices of self-organization amidst COVID19."
Initiated by Emmy Vollaard, Najendra Caldera, Kwinnie Lê and Lili Ullrich, four artists based in Rotterdam. Connected through their performative practices, the lockdown prompted a new way of sharing their texts, performances, letters and drawings with one another.
April 2020
Dear School of Commons,
In these times of Corona, the four of us, Nash, Kwinnie, Emmy and Lili, have created a space for an ongoing collaboration, dissolving the competitive nature of creating, and coming back to the roots, the fun and freedom of our practice.
In the current situation, the world is on a hold. At least, that seems to be the notion. As events were getting cancelled and everybody remained home, we were about to move into a new studio. A new space. This naturally changed our ways of working. Maybe this space isn’t a new space, maybe it has been there all along inside each and every one of us and we just needed a moment to enter it (again). We organized a space, physically and mentally, where we can come together, the four of us, and reach out and react to one another within the borders of the social distancing. We search for ways of connecting within these borders, and use the energy this situation brings along with the energy each of us individually is taking to the space. And so these energies become a shared energy, in which we look for common space. Softly, listening intently and without expectations of self and the other we freely arrange and discover what it means to live in these times. Thus a new practice develops, one we partly need to manifest virtually.
There are different ways one can look at the current situation in which the art world also seems to be on a halt. On the one hand, it can be frightening, a halt in the art world perhaps also means a halt in shows, commissions and so on. A dent in the CV. On the other hand, it is a moment to create freely and experiment. The competitive nature between peers completely dissolves. We wanted to explore this notion in connection with one another and started to send each other performances, letters, drawings etc. under the name Cuarentena Volume I. Abbreviated as cv, it’s a play on words with the acronym for curriculum vitae. As time progresses, we keep the same acronym with a different conjunction of words according to the situation then. You can find our collaboration on https://cv.hotglue.me, placed in such a way in which the maker becomes somewhat anonymous. A focus on the work itself, a focus on our need to create and communicate together. Perhaps a change we would like to see, even after social distancing.
Warmly,
Emmy Vollaard, Najendra Caldera, Kwinnie Lê and Lili Ullrich (artists based in Rotterdam, NL)
“Learning from COVID19: Reflections on knowledge-related commons and practices of self-organization amidst COVID19” is the result of an open call for contributions launched by School of Commons in late April 2020. Shortly after COVID19 put much of the world into lockdown, the contributions form a collection of observations and different practices of learning, self-organisation, and building community amidst a global pandemic. The submitted contributions are varied in form and content, and have not been curated in any way, instead offering space to the diverse experiences and responses of all contributors.
Cuarentena Volumes
We are four artists connected through our performative practices, we came together to open a new studio when the pandemic broke out.
Emmy Vollaard
Artist.
Kwinnie Lê
Artist.
Lili Ullrich
Artist.
Bump Galaxy
BUMP GALAXY is a virtual world and community for mental health. In it, players can visit several different Care Commons and engage with mental health professionals from around the world. Part of "Learning from COVID19: Reflections on knowledge-related commons and practices of self-organization amidst COVID19." Read more
Prom.run
«Prom.run» is the publishing project that consists of a selection of materials that have inspired their practice as an art collective and addresses topics relating to self-organization and knowledge-related commons. Part of "Learning from COVID19: Reflections on knowledge-related commons and practices of self-organization amidst COVID19." Read more
Art On Demand - Radicalizing Access to Art in Times of Crisis
Art On Demand is a collaborative participatory project which creates a platform from and for artists, curators, writers, theorists and audiences to collectively share and experience the creation of and encounter with art. Part of "Learning from COVID19: Reflections on knowledge-related commons and practices of self-organization amidst COVID19." Read more
I spat on it to put it back together
A self-conducted interview which offers insight into Price's practice and reflects upon the ways in which she positions herself both in her work as well as her community during the pandemic. Part of "Learning from COVID19: Reflections on knowledge-related commons and practices of self-organization amidst COVID19." Read more
Somebody
Centering the body without other bodies, Marquedant questions the parameters of being singular. Part of "Learning from COVID19: Reflections on knowledge-related commons and practices of self-organization amidst COVID19." Read more
A short reflection on what COVID-19 teaches us about science
An essay which offers a welcome respite in thinking about the future of knowledge production and its rootedness in community. Part of "Learning from COVID19: Reflections on knowledge-related commons and practices of self-organization amidst COVID19." Read more
A Conditional Construction in the Making
A text reflecting Morrison’s interests in discursive frameworks; performative platforms for critical enquiry; and ways in which we can facilitate and mediate multiple spaces for the generation of knowledge. Part of "Learning from COVID19: Reflections on knowledge-related commons and practices of self-organization amidst COVID19." Read more
GCD Memes
GCD Memes is a rolling body of work that attempts to reflect on the collective experiences of those involved in the GCD course at CSM from the student perspective. Part of "Learning from COVID19: Reflections on knowledge-related commons and practices of self-organization amidst COVID19." Read more
The Coffee Commons
This essay reflects upon the divergent responses to and asymmetrical consequences of COVID19 in McBride’s home country, South Africa, and her country of residence, Switzerland. Part of "Learning from COVID19: Reflections on knowledge-related commons and practices of self-organization amidst COVID19." Read more
dream#1 2020
This video work is a dreamy, haunting piece that looks at the role our personal stories play in the making of history, as well as the actual political potency of our feelings. Part of 'Learning from COVID19: Reflections on knowledge-related commons and practices of self-organization amidst COVID19.' Read more
The Anatomy of DIY-Objects in an Epidemic Infrastructure
A short visual essay about the DIY infrastructures that pop up amidst a global pandemic. Part of "Learning from COVID19: Reflections on knowledge-related commons and practices of self-organization amidst COVID19." Read more
A three-minute excerpt from springtime 2020
A collection of found footage from the lockdown period. Part of "Learning from COVID19: Reflections on knowledge-related commons and practices of self-organization amidst COVID19." Read more
Kein Strom
A short story, written as a diary entry, describes a lockdown-specific encounter. Part of "Learning from COVID19: Reflections on knowledge-related commons and practices of self-organization amidst COVID19." Read more
Wochenplan
A short video that shows the ways in which Rieger organised her activities into weekly schedules in order to maintain her singing practice as well as her social life. Part of "Learning from COVID19: Reflections on knowledge-related commons and practices of self-organization amidst COVID19." Read more