Artist wins Japan opportunity

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday, 23 April 2009
Artist wins Japan opportunity

Auckland video artist Janet Lilo is the latest New Zealander chosen to be a resident artist in Sapporo, Japan, under the JENESYS residency programme.

Ms Lilo who is of Maori, Samoan and Niuean ancestry, has exhibited her video and multimedia installations in New Zealand and overseas.

Her Parklife video installation highlighted local hip hop culture within the Avondale area of West Auckland and featured in the Telecom Prospects 2007 exhibition.

In her solo exhibition, TOP 16, she looked at how thousands of New Zealanders, especially Maori and Pacific youth, profile themselves and keep in touch with friends and share news and photos on the social networking site Bebo.

Her work has also been included in group exhibitions in Honolulu, Taiwan, Indonesia, France, Germany and Australia.

Janet Lilo has a Masters of Art and Design in Visual Arts in Video and Installation from AUT University and is a board member of the Tautai Contemporary Art Trust.

The JENESYS (Japan East Asia Network of Exchange of Students and Youths) programme is an initiative offered by the Japan Foundation in 13 Asia-Pacific countries, including New Zealand.

The application process for New Zealand art professionals is facilitated by the Asia New Zealand Foundation. The JENESYS programme includes round-trip airfares between Japan and New Zealand as well as accommodation and other expenses.

Author Carl Shuker (The Method Actors, The Lazy Boys) was the previous New Zealander to be awarded a JENESYS artist’s residency for the purpose of researching a new novel.

In another Asia New Zealand Foundation supported artists’ residency programme, Korean artist Jimin Kim will next month take up a two month long residency at the Arts Centre in Christchurch.

He is the third artist to visit New Zealand under this annual initiative, which is also supported by the Korea Foundation.

Mr Kim is a sculptor who has held solo exhibitions in Singapore and Seoul and taken part in group exhibitions in Beijing and Hong Kong. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Seoul National University and a Masters of Fine Arts from the Wimbledon College of Art at the University of London.

Jimin Kim will be based at the Arts Centre in Christchurch from May 4 until July 5.

ENDS

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