A visit to Globe Aroma, part 2
Behind a small door near Brussels' Nieuwe Graanmarkt, you discover Globe Aroma, a studio firmly rooted in the world. It is an artistic workspace and meeting place that provides space, time, and a network for artists, co-creators, and art enthusiasts with a newcomer background.
Alice Ciresola is the studio's project manager, in the first part of the interviews she gives a word about how it works.
Working here requires a certain mindset because everything is shared. As an artist, you must take responsibility for each other and the space. During the assemblé atelier we discuss everything together with all the artists.
Let's dive into the studio and speak with some artists.
Kled Kapexhiu
What material do you prefer to work with?
My favorite material is “presence”, the ability of a person or object to convey meaning or emotion just by merely showing up in front of us. And then light, shadow, color; all of them well organized from the point of view of my camera.
Do you have a fixed way of working in the studio?
I tend to work by researching in a certain direction. I might do the same thing over and over again for a long time, until I get the feeling that I’ve tried everything I could to explore the subject at hand.
Do you sometimes work elsewhere?
Yes, wherever people would feel “at home” when photographed. My first question to someone I’m photographing for the first time is: where do you want to tell me your story?
What are the advantages of a group studio for you? Are there any disadvantages?
The group stores within itself the energy, the flow, the anchor-points you need when there’s a shortage (which you should be ready to give back when someone else will need them). But when it dissolves, which eventually it does one day, it leaves behind a continuous single-tone sound around you, meaning all that Jazz is gone.
Tatiana Zubieta
What material do you prefer to work with?
I mainly work with materials recuperated from the street, like rubber, metal, iron, plastic. Going around I see a lot of stuff that is thrown away in garbage bins, but actually I see it as material that I can reuse and create new shapes. I try to avoid buying material, it’s part of my work philosophy to transform and reuse as much as possible in order not to buy and pollute more.
What does your dream studio look like?
My ideal atelier would be a big space, where there is a lot of storage, and shelves/racks to organize and classify material. There would be many machines to work different materials (wood, metal) and very specific tools. It would be a space for myself but that would allow me also to work in collaboration with other people. My dream atelier would be a fully functional one.
What are the advantages of a group studio for you? Are there any disadvantages?
It can be very motivating because I see other people at work, I am nourished by the dynamics, and I love that some people spontaneously come and tell something about my work or they show interest or curiosity. This is when I feel my works are speaking also to other people. But sometimes it is not easy to concentrate, because of the noise, or many people talking or discussing about shared materials…
Ismail Matar
What material do you prefer to work with?
I work mainly with acrylic paint. At first, I started painting with it partially because of how affordable it was but I quickly grew fond of the material. It really suits my painting style and I feel like I can really communicate through acrylic painting.
What does your dream studio look like?
A big studio is my dream. I would love it to be in a central street with a big entrance that would really mark it as being my studio. It would have enough space to receive people and give workshops. The biggest area would of course be my working space.
How often do you work in the studio?
I’m quite active in the studio, I’m here almost every day. My paintings usually take between three days and a week to finish and when I’m not painting, I’m thinking about what I will do next. Reflecting on how I can improve as an artist, planning for the future.
How do the other artists in the studio influence your work (way)?
Sharing the studio with other artists is something I really enjoy. I love being able to share and discuss ideas with others. It’s really motivating to see people creating around me, it inspires me and feeds my own artistic practice. I feel that the artists here really complement each other, I even have plans to collaborate with some of them in the near future.
I think of this studio as a gift, my success is in part because of it. I’m really glad I found it, I feel very at home here.
Hamada Elkept
What material do you prefer to work with?
I do not have a preferred material, it depends on what I am working on. The work I’ve been developing at Globe Aroma usually requires the use of canvas and acrylic paint, but the materials I use might change if the work starts asking for something else. I don’t like to be restrained material wise and a lot can change during a project.
What does your dream studio look like?
I’ve always dreamed of reaching a stage of stability with my artistic career, and this would come with my own space. I am confident that, one day, I will have this space. My studio will be a safe space filled with positive energy; away from all the wars, crises, beliefs, restrictions, political and geographical conditions, and sieges. My studio will be free and full of all the colors of life.
How often do you work in the studio?
It is essential to organize my working time in the studio; I try to go there almost every day, as It inspires me to plan for new art work and reflect on the new projects and ideas coming to mind; the studio gives me the needed space to work on and further develop those projects. I have no specific schedule; but working there is one of the most important parts of my life.
There is no doubt that the studio's most significant impact on the artist's career, or at least on my artistic career, is the presence of all the other artists, each with a different background, different thoughts and beliefs, and different ways of working. There is strength in this diversity, it inspires me a lot.
On Sunday, May 5th, you can visit Globe Aroma and meet the artists.
Curious about the other artists at Globe Aroma? Read here the first part of the interviews.
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