Local performance artist-arts champion-curator Leafa Wilson/Olga Krause is one of the artists who will be showcasing her work at the Performance Evening at Ramp Gallery. This image is from a performance at Physics Room 2017 titled ‘This ain't no disco’.
Performance Art Week Aotearoa (PAWA) kicks off at 5pm, this Friday 27 October at Ramp Gallery, Wintec | Te Pūkenga. With their first stop in Kirikiriroa Hamilton, PAWA are bringing two international artists and one local artist to present performances; enormousface aka Kalan Shh! (Cascadia/NYC), Tomasz Szrama (Poland/Finland) and Leafa Wilson/Olga Krause (New Zealand/Samoa).
PAWA brings together a wide variety of performance artists from around Aotearoa New Zealand and the world with the intent to stimulate critical discourse, broaden audiences, and strengthen artistic and collaborative ties.
Amongst the line-up of internationally acclaimed artists, both international and local who will be presenting work, is Kalan Shh!, a puppeteer and a performance artist who has been described by New York Magazine as “NYC’s Most Avant-Garde Nihilist Subway Performer.”
Tomasz Szrama is one of the most prolific performance artists in the world, and primarily works with his surroundings and audiences to create chaotic and meaningful performances. The artist describes his work, “My art is in a constant flux between sincerity, humour and complete despair. I am frantically trying to capture the essence of a situation, a state of mind.”
Waikato-based creative Leafa Wilson/Olga Krause is a performance artist and curator who plays with identity performing as ‘Olga Krause’ her birth name and an embodiment of colonisation. Leafa Wilson works with the subtle energies and contexts of a situation to deeply enthral audiences.
PAWA Artistic Director Sara Cowdell says, “At the forefront PAWA celebrates performance art. It's an art form where truly ‘anything can happen’. Performance art is at the forefront of experimental art, at its core it responds to what is, engages with people, crosses boundaries and makes us question things.”
Tamsin Green, Ramp Gallery Curator and arts educator at Wintec | Te Pūkenga says making space for events that bring international artists to the region is great for the arts ecosystem and inspirational for emerging creatives. “It’s all learning for our ākonga, to not only see different types of art but to also see work with perspectives from other cultures and places,” says Green.
Wintec Bachelor of Contemporary Art student Gryph, has been interning with PAWA as part of his industry placement, working on event promotions and administration. Green says, “Gryph will be traveling to Wellington to support this event in November and it’s just another example of how collaborations can provide opportunities for applied learning and networking for our ākonga.”
The performance evening will showcase works that are challenging, engaging, and meaningful, an evening full of unique experiences. Due to the nature of the artform, artists and the public should expect the unexpected!
Event details:
Date: 5pm, Friday 27 October 2023
Venue: Ramp Gallery. 111 Collingwood street Wintec city campus
