EXCHANGE 2023: A Peer Learning Residency

EXCHANGE 2023 invited six emerging artists and two writers for a two-month-long residency in an effort to help further develop their creative practices through mentorship and resource support. In its second edition, the program was able to open up the residency to artists and writers from all across Nepal. This edition of the residency was anchored by the theme of ‘Identity’ which encouraged the artists to reflect on the spaces they hold at home, in communities and in larger social-political settings. To support this reflection and ignite new ideas on thinking about one’s identity, the residency facilitated multiple workshops, talks and gatherings that focused on bringing out different perspectives on the subject. 

The programming for this edition included an Artist Talk with Bidhyaman Tamang, Reading Sessions with The Pomelo Team, Exhibition Walkthrough with Mann Gurung, Heritage Walk with Social Tours, Research Methodology Workshop with Deepmala Maharjan, Zine Making Workshop with Stuti Sharma from Matangi Library, Visual Storytelling Workshop with Tulsi Rauniyar, Artist Bio and Statement Writing Workshop with Pooja Poudel and Jury Review Sessions with Pratima Thakali and Shivangi Bansal

As an extension to the EXCHANGE 2023 residency, the Danfe Arts team traveled to Kakarbhitta, Jhapa where two workshops focusing on the fundamentals of Woodcut Printmaking and the art of crafting Artist Bios and Statements were organized. The content and structure of the workshops were carefully tailored to address the specific needs of the local art community, as identified through multiple conversations with our collaborators, DeHi Art and East Horizon English High School. Shreemila Shrestha, one of our residents, conducted the Printmaking Workshop where she introduced different techniques of the art form and demonstrated the methods. The Artist Bio & Statement Writing Workshop, facilitated by residency moderator Pooja Poudel, highlighted the importance of crafting impactful bios and statements. Fourteen students and a few local artists participated in the workshops.