main idea

The start of building an open art workshop in the mountains of Peru, integrated in nature. To sustain the creative practice of working in alignment with the surrounding environment, people and place.

The residency in Peru

A time emerged in the landscape of the mountains to really consider on a deeper level what I would like my work to reflect and the direction I would like to go in going forward.

Taking the time to integrate with the local people, learn new techniques, make new natural pigments from the sacred valley.

Art workshop

Something that appeared whilst spending my time thinking about my artwork on a more introspective level was to build an art studio submerged in the mountains, as an open collaborative creative space where artists can go to expand their practice. Create with local people on projects that are integral to the culture and richness of the sacred valley. 

Inspiration

This came as an inspiration to take an old run down tools deposit space and turn it into a spacious, light and functional workshop.

The intention

The intention of this space was to make it inviting and accessible for those who want to take the time out of the conditioned reality of life and to just be with the medicine of the nature.

The medicine of the nature

This is a way of calling nature what she really is, a medicine. This was to see her allows us to take the time to have our conditioned layers peeled back to see what the being inside us really wants.

It’s hard to find a space to do this in normal day to day life, connected to the cities and developing world. So this is a sanctuary where the intention and the space is very clear and well equipped for this intention.

Why

To allow people to take the time and the patience that they need. That I needed. To come to the point of understanding why they create, what for, what’s the meaning, what’s the message, what’s the service, the utility, the point etc…

All of these aspects are important as a creative to come to the understanding of why. When we have a clearer understanding of the why, everything else is so much easier and smoother to align and follow.

When we know the why, we start to see the way or we begin to let the way unfold as it wants to unfold. But alteast if we know why we have a sense of meaning and direction to go forward with until a new why appears and deepens our sense of understanding and direction.

The process

The process involved clearing out the whole space, taking all raw materials out and digging up the base of the floor to get a 10cm even depth for us to be able to put a concrete floor onto.

As well as removing the tiles from the roof, ripping out the inside lining of the roof, and cutting out a 3 meter by 3 meter gap to be able to put sky-lighting in.

We also had to take measurements of the space for electricity, find the different connection points and align some tubing into the infrastructure too later install the cables, light switches and light bulbs.

After carefully taking measurements and planning we went down into the town, found a great shop who had everything we needed plus a large van to help us get all the materials 45 minutes up the mountain into the work space.

The steps

We began with lining the floor with Steele bars for a stronger infrastructure in the concrete setting.

We then continued with the roof, placing 3 large transparent roofings into the previously cut gap, re-roofing the roof and shaving off an excess material or loose internal bamboo sticks.

We aligned some pipes that would be concreted into the ground to pass the electrics through.

And finally we hand mixed enough cement together with sand and gravel to make a sufficient amount to cover the levelled floor.

Finishing touches

During the time it took for the cement to set. We repurposed the internal furniture which would finally be the shelves and tables.

We found old long slabs of wood together with really old tables, we sanded them down multiple times, treated the wood and painted them a beautiful, fresh and glossy brown.

When all was nearly finished it was time to hook the electrics up, get the wires in and aligned, decide where exactly the light switches etc would go and finish everything in a professional and usable way.

Expansion

If we had more time and finances there are more things that I would have loved to do, including putting a long horizontal window in the right wall, remudding the walls inside for more insulation and sharper look. Finishing the roof with a coating over the bamboo to fix it for a longer life, install a new door and finally to get it running!

The plan

We are very pleased with the outcome and even with there being more to do, there is a great base made for others to come and continue the work as well as active the space.

Space activation

It’s amazing what can happen when a dormant space is reactivated after many years of abandonment.

Spaces are much like human beings, when neglected they become asleep and start to loose a sense of purpose and light. But when activated with a purpose and a direction they come alive, awakening the spirit of the space and the potentiality of it.

Everything has potential it’s just how to get the most out of it and alteast to try our best in doing so.

This is a project I look forward to returning to and making work submerged in the mountains and sacred valley.

It was an honour and a blessing to complete this service with great help and a friends.