Online Workshops and e-book project
The Substation’s Associate Artist Programme 2020/21 presents: Triune by Farhan Idris
Relating to the form (three-in-one) meaning three different ways of pointing towards the same thing, as known as “trinitarian ontology”.
Triune is Farhan’s attempt to systematise his own art critique surrounding the discourses of experimentation and situationism; Russian cosmism and also aesthetic and philosophical aspects of Hindu-Buddhist tantrism in the visual arts.
In Triune, Farhan will form art criticism essays that will be combined into an e-book project, supplemented by a public facing workshop for each of the three parts or what he calls a ‘strand’.
STRAND 1 - Workshop #1
Topic: Rethinking: Russian Cosmism and a Critique of the Anthropocene in Art Discourse
Date: 22 Apr 21
Time: 08:00 PM - 09:30 PM SINGAPORE
In this workshop, musings and critiques of Relationality in contemporary art discourse will be shared alongside an esoteric short film screening introducing aesthetics and ideas of the philosophical & cultural movement known as Russian Cosmism.
STRAND 2 - Workshop #2
Topic: Reorienting: Cooking, Experimentation and Performance
Date: 26 Apr 21
Time: 08:00 PM - 09:30 PM SINGAPORE
What are the possible connections between the use of food and cooking in the arts, and marginalised intersections of being? This session will look at culinary art experimentation via examples from contemporary art while participants get hands-on in discussing the dynamics around preparing, serving and consuming food- and their parallels to production and presentation in contemporary art sectors.
STRAND 3 - Workshop #3
Topic: Re-envisioning: Philosophical Tantrism, Visuality & the Mandala
Date: 29 Apr 21
Time: 08:00 PM - 09:30 PM Singapore
Aims and assumptions of future-vision discourse & post-Anthropocene envisioning in art scenes will be questioned and viewed in this session through perspectives from Tantrism, exploring the three Tantric aspects of Mandala (imagining), Mudra (the body) and Mantra (repetitive linguistic use).
Through a segment of participative performance, participants will get to practice hand positions of the Mudras while learning about the meanings and symbolisms they embody.
For access to Farhan’s online workshops, please direct your queries to outreach@substation.org.
About the Artist:
Farhan is the co-founder and convenor of the critical humanities collective Bras Basah Open. He is a philosopher by training and has given talks in comparative philosophy internationally.
Currently, Farhan is working on projects relating philosophical themes in Tantrism, and an edited volume on decolonial critique and art criticism in the region.