Unlike its previous manifestations, Womanifesto 2001 was designed as a ten-day workshop in a remote setting in northeastern Thailand with no formal exhibition of works planned thereafter.
At Boon Bandarn Farm near Kantharalak, Si Saket, an international group of 18 professional women artists, curators and art administrators, including 5 student volunteers studying cultural management, were invited to interact and exchange not only with each other but also with the local community and schools.
In our contemporary environment, the gaze is focused on urbanization and city centers. Traditional methods of production and rural knowledge of living are frequently overlooked and quickly forgotten.
Focusing particularly on the position of women, and the wealth of stored knowledge that has been handed down from generation to generation and shared amongst men, women and children in rural areas, the emphasis at Womanifesto 2001 was on exploring local materials, engaging with artisans, sharing experiences and a traditional way of life. The participants were not required to produce “work” in the ten days although some artists decided to create site-specific works on the farm.
Womanifesto Workshop 2001 was organized and planned to initiate dialogue and create a dynamic environment for process and exchange. This included artists leading workshops for the school children in the area.
Held from October 22 to November 2, 2001, the workshop culminated in an open day attended by the schools and local community.
This project was fully funded by the Chiang Mai office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation.
Participants:
Nilofar Akmut ~ Hiroko Inoue ~ Yoshiko Kanai ~ Maritta Nurmi ~ Varsha Nair ~ Preenun Nana ~ Karla Sachse ~ Narumol Thamapruksha ~ Surojana Sethabutra ~ Nitaya Ueareeworakul ~ Lawan Jirasuradej ~ Naomi Urabe ~ Yin Xiuzhen
Volunteers:
Duangnapa Silapasai, Vipapat Wadkeaw, Sirinapa Sirinakorn, Nataya Masawisut and Jiratti Khuttanam
Organizers:
Preenun Nana, Nitaya Ueareeworakul, Naomi Urabe and Varsha Nair