Keegan Keene, École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (Paris, FR)
6 Academies is the new identity of a collaboration between six leading European Art Academies and their Departments of Photography.
Gerrit Rietveld Academie, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Zürcher Hochschule fur Gestaltung, Zürich, Switzerland
Fachhochschule, Bielefeld, Germany
École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, France
Fondazione Fotografia di Modena, Italy
Royal College of Art, London, Great Britain
Professors from each school visit each other annually to evaluate their respective students works, discuss content and teaching methods and artistic tendencies in the field of photography. This recurring dialogue results in a selection of students and an exhibition of their works in alternating cities.
At UNSEEN 2018, 6 Academies is given the opportunity to present their new format of showcasing the students work publicly. The Gerrit Rietveld Academie is the first host in a series of exhibitions to come.
The amphitheater-inspired structure provides a unique platform to exhibit the students works.
The performative element and the improvised choreography of the students who are personally and constantly reinventing and negotiating the presentation, reflects our shared educational practices.
In this form, the installation invites the public to experience photography as an exhibition, as an intersection and a meeting point.
6 Academies at UNSEEN provides a live view of an interactive, visual transformation throughout the whole duration of the festival. More information on unseenamsterdam.com
Christel Thomsen, Royal College of Art (London, GB)
Wenqingao Lei, Royal College of Art (London, GB)
Marie Ward, École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (Paris, FR)