SISONKE Südafrika-Europa
SISONKE Südafrika-Europa
„SISONKE-Togetherness”kreativer Austausch, Synergie und Dialog zwischen Europa und Südafrika. Ergebnis dieser interkontinentalen Zusammenarbeit ist der Cross Continental Design Catwalk 2007,der das New Design Festival 07 im designforum-Museumsquartier Wien als Gala-Abend eröffnen wird. Zugleich Weltpremiere einer einzigartigen 90minütigen Show-Präsentation von Schmuck- und Fashiondesign, kreiert von 200 JungdesignerInnen, KünstlerInnen und Musikern aus Südafrika und Europa. Geplant sind mehrere Abendaufführungen, sowie weiterführende Präsentationen in Budapest, London und Johannesburg.
SISONKE Zielsetzungen:
Entdeckung, Veröffentlichung und Präsentation kreativen Potentials
Bekämpfung struktureller Armut mit dem Fokus auf historisch benachteiligte Jugend aus Südafrika und dem Ausbau und Weiterbildung kreativer Kapazitäten
Förderung internationaler Repräsentation und Mobilität, Kriterien von grundlegender Bedeutung in der Kreativ-Industrie und der zeitgenössischen Kunstproduktion
Aufbau und Verstärkung aktiver kultureller Netzwerke zwischen Südafrika und Europa
Förderung eines besseren Verständnisses zwischen Südafrika und Europa als Initiative zum Abbau von Stereotypen, Mythen und vorgegebener Vorstellungen kultureller Identität
Kontakte und Projektleitung
SISONKE Projektbüro - KulturAXEKonzept und ProjektleitungCaroline Fekete-Kaiser1030 Wien, Esteplatz 7Tel & Fax +43-1-713 38 08Mobil 0676 9111609E-mail: info@kulturaxe.net
DESIGN FESTIVAL Büro - NDUNew Design UniversityMariazeller Straße 97, 3100 St. Pölten, AustriaTel +43 (0)2742 8902412 / Fax +43 (0)2742 8902413Email: design@via.atwww.ndu.ac.at
SISONKE Project Office South Africa - Imfundiso572 Corner Swemmer and 11th Avenue Street,Gezina 0002 Tshwane, PretoriaPostnet Suite 261, Private Bag X15Menlo Park, 0102, Pretoria, South AfricaTel (012) 335 8253 / Fax (012) 335 5399Project DirectionIsaac NkweEmail: imfundiso@mweb.co.za
Institutionelle Partner, Sponsoren
SOUTH AFRICAN EMBASSYSandgasse 33, 1190 Vienna, AustriaTel: +43-1-3206493, Fax: +43-1-320649351www.saembvie.atH.E. Leslie M.GumbiAmbassador/Permanent RepresentativeH. Graham Anderson, CounsellorKatharina Grascher, Cultural Affairs
Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria,www.tut.ac.zawww.art.co.za
South West Gauteng College, George Tabor Campus, Sowetowww.swgc.co.za
GEMBIOSCOPE CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTRE, Troyeville, Johannesburgwww.joburg.org.za/..
CARFAX, conceptual by nature, Newtown, Johannesburg,www.carfax.co.za
Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Bratislava/SKwww.afad.sk
MACHFELD, international Arts and Culture Society, Vienna/A,www.machfeld.net
CPERU Ltd., Multimedia, Budapest/H,www.revesz.eu
DCM DECOmetal GmbH, Austriawww.dcm-vienna.com

KONZEPT, AUSGANGSPUNKT, ERGEBNISSE UND PARTNER(in Englisch)
SISONKE - togethernessa creative exchange and synergybetween South Africa and EuropeCross Continental Design CatwalkJewellery & Fashion Design Performance incorporating music, dance, visuals and poetryOpening event: 26th March - 1st April 2007,designforum-MQ, MuseumsQuartier Vienna, Austria
SISONKE means 'togetherness' in Zulu language. SISONKE stands for a cross continental exchange in design and contemporary arts between South Africa and Europe with a focus on jewellery design. Based on reciprocity and sustainability, SISONKE promotes a collaboration in creative expression between the continents and launches a mobility network aimed at continuity. The Cross Continental Design Catwalk 2007 will showcase the results of the cooperation started in 2006, introducing creative activity and design talent from South Africa and Europe to a wide audience. A high level forum of presentation of jewellery design, fashion design and other art expressions integrating all elements of performance, the catwalk will be a unique enthralling event reflecting the theme of 'togetherness'.
The aims are to engage in mutual art practices in reciprocal inspiration between the continents fostering social equity and creative freedom. Furthermore to facilitate international exposure and mobility for young designers, artists and students as well as access to international representation, crucial features in today's creative industries and contemporary art production. In South Africa the focus will be directed to historically disadvantaged youth as well as young and emerging jewellers.The objective of SISONKE is to prepare the grounds for a continual exchange between the continents which is to be achieved by the creation of a mobility programme. This will be grounded on a network encompassing colleges and academic institutions in South Africa and European countries, such as Austria, the UK, France and Slovakia. The Cross Continental Catwalk 2007 itself is conceived as a 'Road Show' which can be sent around the world.
Starting pointThe 21st Century is marked by rapid changes of perspectives and the evolvement of new centres on a global level. We experience a constant remapping of the world and a relativisation of the notion periphery. The opening to the “other” has been declared as a principle of action, international attention is more and more directed to art production of the new centres such as South Africa, China, Mexico. However, international representation processes of contemporary art production remain closed circuits branded by inequality of access relating to geographical provenance. Cross-continental exchanges are more often then not still biased by stereotypes, proliferation of myths and prefabricated notions of cultural identity.It is time to start communication based on something as simple as dialogue. It is time not to seek for lack or deficiencies in the other, but to detect and tap creative potential and to assemble energies. There are no global issues which stand alone.
Cross Continental CooperationIn December 2005 Imfundiso Skills Development, South Africa, and KulturAXE, Vienna, Austria, started a cooperation process. The Austro-Slovakian culture association KulturAXE was founded 1995 in Vienna, following mutual art projects with Slovakia, which were initiated right after the political change 1989. KulturAXE has realized a multitude of transnational cooperation projects in the fields of arts, new technologies and architecture. For 16 years KulturAXE organizes International Art Symposia in Slovakia, Hungary and Poland. The contacts established at the symposia span a worldwide net with the aim of a continuing exchange. KulturAXE is backed by a strong network of artists, cultural actors, art initiatives, academic institutions and universities both in European and non-European countries. Since 1998 there has been a continuous exchange with artists and initiatives from South Africa as well as cooperation partners such as the Technikon, Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg.
SISONKE Cross Continental Design Catwalk 2007Jewellery & Fashion Design Performance incorporating music, dance, visuals and poetryOpening event: New Design Festival 07, NDU (New Design University St. Pölten)designforum-MQ, MuseumsQuartier Vienna, Austria26th March - 1st April 2007,
The Cross Continental Design Catwalk is a high level forum of presentation of jewellery design incorporating fashion design and other art expressions integrating all elements of performance. The CCD Catwalk 2007 will showcase the results of the artistic exchange between the continents started in 2006, introducing creative activity and design talent from South Africa and Europe to a wide international audience. The catwalk will be a complex production that spans different art disciplines for a unique enthralling event reflecting the theme of 'togetherness'. SISONKE - 'togetherness' in Zulu, title and theme of the catwalk, will be freely expressed in the wide range of emotions that this theme evokes from visions, dreams to social reality. Sisonke stands for the overcoming of borders, both mental and physical, for the outmapping of a cross continental relationship in mutual inspiration. Artists and designers will voice their thoughts to this theme, translate them into artworks, visualizing personal statement they feel of importance reflecting various states of mind from anger, longing to hope, trust, love and passion. Generated by the cooperation between the continents, it is intended to take place in contemporary art centres in Europe and South Africa. Combining traditional techniques both from Africa and Europe with contemporary design fit for the 21st Century. It is also aimed to combine precious materials with longstanding tradition from South Africa and Austria, for which the active partnership with respective companies will be sought. The CCD Catwalk 2007 itself is conceived as a 'Road Show' which can be sent travelling. The intention is to present it 2007 in Vienna, Budapest, Johannesburg and London.The opening event and the premiere of the Catwalk in March 2007 will be performed in the impressive event hall of the designforum-MQ located in the baroque front wing of the Vienna Museumsquartier, one of the ten largest cultural complexes in the world.
VISION, STRATEGIES, OBJECTIVESVISIONTo enter into a dialogue between South Africa and Europe, fostering a better understanding among people dismantling stereotypes, myths and prefabricated notions of cultural identity. Together we will create a cross continental platform of exchange for both physical and inner mobility. Exploring notions of identity, fostering an understanding of the heterogeneous different cultural identities and their coexistence on a level of equality. Trusting the power of personal action and its validity in initiating change and building hope. Presenting a new model of openness to learn from “the other”, interaction and visions that the world can share.WORKING MODUS AND STRATEGIES
Collaborative art practice in reciprocal inspiration between the continents
Transnational and interdisciplinary approach and participatory work processes
Cross continental exchanges in workshops, in the design and art production processes and for the realization of the show and design presentation
Focusing on social equity and creative freedom
Development of marketing and sales strategies for contemporary jewellery design fit for the requirements of a global marketOBJECTIVES AND AIMS
Detection and publicising of creative potential
Alleviation of structural poverty upgrading creative capacities and skills, focusing on historically disadvantaged youth in South Africa
Fostering of international exposure and mobility, crucial features in today's creative industries and contemporary art production
Building and strengthening of cultural networks between Africa and Europe
Promotion of art awareness and development of new arts audiences
Imfundiso Skills Development, South Africa
“Poverty is the greatest assault on human dignity, where you wake up, and do not know, you are going to get the next meal, and live in shanty towns, unable to send your children to the best schools. It is the greatest assault on dignity, and unemployment worsens it.” Nelson Mandela
Imfundiso Skills Development, ISD, is a training initiative in South Africa that has unleashed creative potential in many former unskilled young people. Leading them to high quality design in jewellery manufacture and even as far as laureates in renowned jewellery design competitions. Unearthing latent talent from historically disadvantaged communities, combining African traditional goldsmith techniques with contemporary design skills. Founded by Isaac Nkwe in 2001, Imfundiso Skills Development has until now managed to set up five schools in the country which train 300 students and learners in a two-year jewellery design and manufacturing training course. Imfundiso has been accredited by the Mining Qualification Authority and cooperates with several Universities. It is being supported amongst others by De Beers and Anglogold Ashanti.
“Why do we mine diamonds and gold while we do not have jewellers in this country. Jewellers that can produce unique South Africa Jewellery, so that when tourist come to this country, they can say, I bought this in South Africa,” Isaac Nkwe.
“Imfundiso is tapping the pool of design talent we know South Africa possesses in abundance. It is giving young people the opportunity to acquire skills that should enable them to make a living and perhaps provide employment for others in time to come.” Kevin Williams, Executive Marketing Director, Anglogold Ashanti