WHEN a group of Frome artists linked with a group of Ukrainian artists, in exile in Europe or still living in Ukraine, in July 2022, they had no way of knowing where their translated conversations on Zoom would take them.
Artists in Dialogue: War Vocabulary began with 14 artists agreeing themes that often pose questions: How can I represent my feelings about the war against Ukraine? What does peace as a resolution to conflict look like to me?
‘My Ukraine’ became a theme for the Ukrainian artists as they settled into their new homes across Europe and were ready to recall their homeland before the Russian invasion whilst Frome artists considered the enigma of war.
Initially the artists completed and uploaded their artwork to Conceptboards and wrote comments that were translated. Then local artist Barry Cooper suggested a sketching conversation Conceptboard where artists respond to other artists with artwork, not written comments. “We are using the language of our art to connect with and understand one another, and it is so powerful,” enthused Barry.
You can hear all about Artists in Dialogue: War Vocabulary from the Frome artists; how the project title came about, technological challenges that the group has to overcome, a trip to Europe to visit four of the Ukrainian artists in preparation for the first exhibition at the Silk Mill in March, collaboration to create Heliograffiti and much more during CONVERSATION РОЗМОВА, a Talk at Frome Town Hall, on Tuesday 28th February, 7:00pm – 8:30pm Tickets £3 concessions £2 available at Winstone’s Hunting Raven, Cheap Street, Frome and Mells Post Office, shop and café, Park Hill, Mells.
CONVERSATION РОЗМОВА is a fundraising event, for Artists in Dialogue; War Vocabulary. email artistsindialogue .info@gmail.com for further information about how to donate to the project.
