New Supermarket 2018 Team Members
Have you ever wondered who these Supermarket people even are?
We think it is nice if you get to know a bit about the people behind the scene and emails, and whom you will encounter at the fair.
And so we wanted to share with you our two latest, brightest additions to the Supermarket 2018 team: Franziska Sperling as Talks and Performances coordinator & Emer Ní Chíobhaín as Professional Networking Participants coordinator.
Our project manager asked them a couple of questions and you can read below their replies to what they are going to do at Supermarket, and their thoughts on Legacy – and even eternity.
Hi Emer, hi Franziska! You are brand new to the Supermarket Team and as such we have high hopes for you to bring some fresh and glorious ideas to the programme. What are you going to work with at Supermarket and what does it involve?
Franziska: I am the Talks & Performance programme coordinator and will help to gather the most interesting participants who will contribute either with a highly relevant public talk to the legacy theme or with an exciting, unforgettable and path-breaking performance to the Supermarket 2018 programme!
Emer: This year I'm the PNP coordinator! As a professional networking participant (PNP) at Supermarket myself a couple of years ago I know what it's like to be part of the art fair but not exhibiting. Although PNPs do not exhibit, they are able to take part in special seminars and discussions, the meetings programme, exhibitor gatherings, exhibitor party, and gain access to the very exciting VIP Exhibitor lounge! I'll be working closely with my colleagues in the Meetings programme and the Talks programme to make this year’s PNP experience an interesting and exciting one.
Is there something that you are particularly looking forward to at the art fair?
Franziska: I really look forward to working with the super Supermarket team and by that getting to know a different professional environment and of course to learn so much more about the amazing artists who rock the independent art scene.
Emer: As always, every year, for me it’s about meeting people. I'm excited to see what new faces will be around as well as catching up with some old ones!
This year’s theme is Legacy. What are your thoughts and ideas in regards to that? Do you think it is easy to create a programme around a theme like that?
Franziska: It will be interesting to be looking together into the past and the future, and trying to see ourselves/the art scene from a past and future perspective. Where are we today and where do we want to be in future? How much influence do we have today in order to be remembered and how much will the perception of what we do today change?
I think the biggest challenge is to combine all the different ideas of and perspectives on legacy and create like a map of thoughts and practices at the art fair. But differences are a good starting point for discussions and exchange, which will hopefully lead to that both artists and the audience feel inspired and encouraged for future practices and projects.
Emer: "Legacy" is such a big idea, and as such I do think it's easy to create a programme around it, but it's the potential directions it can be taken that will be interesting. Are we going to be looking at the future of artist-run-spaces in the current economic climate? Or perhaps, looking at taking over from those who have gone before and bringing in new generations of practice and practices. I'm excited to see what this year's talks programme will bring.
A futuristic question: Will art still be relevant in 1000 years?
Franziska: As long as people are left in 1000 years there will be art and it will be relevant! (I wonder what art will look like though, and how it will develop.)
Emer: Of course! I'm not sure what the "state of art" will look like. But art will always be relevant.
And lastly, if you could put one thing in a box and store it for eternity, what would it be?
Franziska: It would be a letter of a friend. Highly important to me. Completely irrelevant for anyone who would find the box.
Emer: Wow! I really don't know what to say! Well, if I'm to store something for eternity, it has to last forever, right? I've always had a fascination with ancient Egyptian rituals so maybe I would mummify something. Perhaps I'd have myself mummified after my death with elaborate decoration and all!
Bio:
Franziska Sperling is based in Stockholm and has a MA degree in Cultural Studies from Leipzig University, Germany. She made Stockholm the place for her academic research on public art and the relationship between art and society, as well as the place for professional challenges within mediation and education.
Emer Ní Chíobháin is an Irish visual artist and arts administrator. She is the acting PRO for artist-run space; Detroit, Stockholm. In her own visual arts practice she has exhibited across Ireland, as well as internationally in New York, Sofia, London and locally at Detroit, Stockholm and at Supermarket – Stockholm Independent Art Fair.
