
Art for self-growth and learning at ARTANYWAY : A new experience from traveling in different areas
ARTANYWAY was founded by Phadungsak Kochasamrong, a lecturer at Chiang Mai University (1993-96/2002-68) and an interdisciplinary artist who graduated in Painting and Art Education. Former Director of Studio Xang Foundation ,Committee of The Asiatopia International Performance Art Festival, Thailand. The idea was to create a space for creating art that is different in an ecological environment. This idea came from traveling, accumulating experiences and ideas since 1996 until now, which is more than 29 years of traveling and working abroad, both in Asia and Europe. Each trip aims to create art and exhibit with artists in the participating countries. These experiences made us understand that traveling can create good experiences in creating art, but it still takes time to develop and create more work. Although short trips encourage us to think quickly and produce pieces to present, the work may not be as perfect as when we work in familiar areas. However, this is an interesting experience because we experience cultures, people’s ways of thinking, food, and politics, and ways of life that are different from what we are used to. These experiences are the starting point of the idea that developing oneself in a new area should take time and be open to experience the atmosphere, culture, and people of that place.
These ideas have led to the specific vision of ARTANYWAY Residency, which is defined as a space for Retreat, Relax, Recover and Recharge. These four key words are the guidelines that will allow the artists who stay to have new experiences: release, rethink and exchange. We aim to provide new experiences to the artists who stay. I believe that opening up the space within our minds and brains will allow for more diverse ideas and creations. This is the main principle that defines the personality of ARTANYWAY, which is connected to nature, openness and reciprocity.