Current guests at NKF are artist Juanma González and social researcher Gloria Romanello. They will work on their joint project: "Stockholm Artist-run Nexus: Exploring Stockholm's Creative Spaces".
Over the past decade, Stockholm has witnessed a notable proliferation of artist-run initiatives, reflecting a global trend in the art world. These spaces, established and managed by artists, serve as platforms for experimentation and community engagement, operating outside the traditional frameworks of mainstream art institutions and commercial galleries. A comprehensive mapping of these initiatives, such as the one provided by the Artist-Run Alliance (https://artistrunalliance.org/), reveals the diversity and dynamism of Stockholm's artist-run scene. The project "Artist-run Nexus: Exploring Stockholm's Creative Spaces", led by Gloria Romanello and Juanma González during their residency at NKF Malongen, exemplifies a methodological approach that combines artistic exploration with social research. By documenting and analyzing approximately 30 artist-run initiatives in Stockholm, this project aims to elucidate the evolving models of these spaces and their contributions to the local culture.
The significance of 'Artist-run Nexus: Exploring Stockholm's Creative Spaces' extends beyond mere documentation. By focusing on artist-run initiatives, the project acknowledges the role these spaces play as incubators of artistic careers and as sites for cultural democracy. Research indicates that such initiatives often operate as experimental platforms, allowing artists to develop their practices in a supportive environment. Moreover, by operating independently of market pressures, these spaces can prioritize artistic innovation and community engagement over commercial considerations.
In summary, this project not only contributes to a deeper understanding of Stockholm's artistic landscape but also highlights the social and economic potential inherent in artist-run initiatives. By providing a substantiated analysis of these spaces, 'Artist-run Nexus' aims to enhance their academic and scientific relevance, offering insights that could inform cultural policy and support structures for the arts.
For the residency, they are organizing two different types of public activities, public walks and a workshop, details will be announced soon.
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Gloria Romanello holds a Ph.D. in Sociology of Art and Cultural Management and is an accomplished researcher specializing in cultural practices, museology and participatory methodologies. Her academic expertise is complemented by a dynamic engagement with interdisciplinary projects that bridge artistic innovation and social research. Gloria's work delves into the intersections of art, community, and cultural policy, emphasizing the role of collaborative and artist-driven initiatives in shaping contemporary cultural landscapes. As a researcher, she brings a nuanced understanding of art practices and their potential to foster inclusivity and dialogue. Her contributions to "Artist-run Nexus: Exploring Stockholm's Creative Spaces" will reflect her commitment to blending scholarly rigor with hands-on exploration, providing insights into the evolving local ecosystem of artist-run initiatives.
Juanma González is a Spanish artist based in Stockholm with over a decade of experience in developing walking projects and art exhibitions in countries such as Sweden, Norway, Finland, Spain, Estonia, and the United States. His work combines experimental and traditional practices – drawing, photography, site-specific installation and participatory projects. For 8 years, his research interests have been concerned with the act of walking as a practice for knowledge and art production. He holds degrees in Media (UEM, 1999) and Fine Arts (UCM, 2014), as well as an MFA from the Royal Institute of Art (KKH), Stockholm, obtained in 2016. In addition to his artistic practice, he employs walking as a teaching tool and has coordinated and led workshops for KKH students and professors. Notable examples include a workshop trip to Madrid in 2019 and a one-day workshop inspired by the Swedish "studiecirkel" model in 2020. Currently, he is teaching for two months at the Art School of Murcia (Spain). He is also a co-founder of the artist-run collective Flat Octopus, based in Stockholm.
Supported by International exchanges and travel grants, the Spanish Embassy of Sweden and Flat Octopus.