Tezz Kamoen
Sistercities
Tezz Kamoen has been working on Sistercities during her residency at Skimstone Arts, about the twinned cities of Newcastle and Groningen.
The project evolves around the theme of relating to someone you don’t know and will result in a site specific installation at a street in an industrial area of Groningen, known as ‘Newcastleroad’.
During her time at Skimstone, Tezz has worked closely with members of Skimstone’s Young Artist Collective. Phillip Melody. a member of the Young Artist Collective, said: “Working with Tezz has been an exciting way to develop my camera skills and planning and organising skills. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being part of the project and being given more responsibility.”
Claire Webster Saaremets of Skimstone Arts said: “Tezz was a fantastic collaborator and really inspired our Post Gold Arts Award/ experienced artists to engage with her experimental arts practice, using the theme of ‘What If? .. we explore sister-ship between our cities?’ She was very dedicated to the week – her box of breakfast rice krispies is still in the kitchen, and her artist’s talk demonstrated a significant journey of technique, risk and imagination to global themes. We hope this is the beginning of a further dialogue and exchange between Tezz and ourselves.”
Tezz said: “In Amsterdam I work in my studio and I tend to work alone. Though, with this social project, working with others is essential. Skimstone provided me with the best resources, gear and collaborators (the Young Artists Collective). The approach in my visual work is to ‘make’ first’ and this is what I did this week – together with a whole crew that supported me in this, benefiting this approach. The freedom to do this is worth so much and this freedom is what Skimstone brought. During the week more people got involved, and different people were working on different elements of the project. I didn’t plan that out – it ‘happened’. Which led us to make and produce a lot. Even though the week was very short, lots was done and lots happened. I am very thankful to be part of the Skimstone Arts residency and am so happy to have met all the amazing people involved at Skimstone. Apart from being there as an artist for my work; I also came home with new friends; which I think is pretty awesome too.”
The residency was supported by Arts Council England’s Elevate fund.