Q: This demand I take it is in regard to the artists’ need, and not the demand of the audience, or both? A: Well, I can’ t speak for the audience needs because I haven’ t looked at it keenly. But what I do know is that there is almost a parallel effect that if you have more spaces, then it covers a broader spectrum, a broader area- it doesn’ t just cater to one mailing list, it caters to different people and their contacts- so I suppose that when Ramoma closed, there were people who would have gone to Ramoma to see exhibitions and now probably don’ t do that now, there only contact with the artist world and the artist work was through that space. Now Watattu probably has the same thing, it has people who would frequent Watatu, but would not take a seven minutes’ drive to Kuona because it’ s not part of their sphere.
Q: For fifteen years, Kuona has filled a unique niche, if I may, acting as a space where an artist can work and interact with their audience. A: I think that this general direction is a pretty recent thing- looking at the museum studio; it was primarily a space for artists to create, and when tourists happened to wonder down the slope to the studios to see what’ s happening there, well and good. However since Kuona moved to the Godown, and more so this
space, there has been a concerted attempt to open up the space to different audiences, you know; with the exhibitions open days, artist presentations. Previously focus was just on artist skills and improving the same. The model now and am talking as an artist who has practiced in the studios here, and currently as one of the old boys. This, I think is section3: Conceptual
the current focus and it is a good thing, where you are creating a space for artists to express themselves, and also as a meeting point between the artist and the audience- those who would consume what the artist creates.
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