TORRENTS

Torrents is a collective project initiated by Turi Leng Seong Agostino, sound artist, and researcher based in Berlin, Germany. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Agostino delves into the concept of identity and belonging through his artistic practice. Agostino is in charge of curation and research.

The name Torrents reflects not only a voluminous stream of water, adapting its form to the shapes that it encounters along its journey; but Torrents reflects as well a flow of thoughts, words, sounds, movements, meeting and colliding with other torrents, rivers, lakes, seas. Torrents travel and gift their waters to plants and animals, receiving minerals offered by stones and soils. They collaborate with other forms of water to enrich their streams and find their ends in a common, shared space. Torrents is an ongoing, always growing participatory collective network.

Torrents began its explorations looking at diasporic realities and their quest to unearth connections with their ancestors’  roots. This pursuit of identity fosters a dialogue, an exchange between the stories and traditions of diasporic communities, their encounters with the crosscurrents of contemporary existence, and their gaze towards the lands of their ancestors.

Torrents decided to initiate a  project  for the preservation and exploration of personal narratives in the form of communal space. Torrents’  intent is to hear, see, and share voices, subcultures, traditions, and identities that have been silenced, excluded, marginalized by the western narratives. This will manifest in diverse forms such as exhibitions, public programs, performances, archives, and residencies.

Torrents looks at Prof. kąrî’kạchä seid'ou's vision of art as a gift in a cognitive form. Gifting is a complex act;  Derrida describes it as a bounded performance, where the recipient may feel obliged to reciprocate the gesture. For seid'ou, art transcends this boundary as it contains intellectual knowledge. In this sense, artists share a cognitive gift that the recipient does not need to return, as both giver and receiver are enriched intellectually and spiritually by it.

From this idea, Torrents seeks to create communal spaces for collaborative dialogue and creation, moving beyond the notion of art produced by individual authors. Torrents want to hand gifts to its visitors and to contributors of the project themself, inviting them to co-create and co-inhabit a space, nourishing it by a spirit of collectivism. 

COMMONS

Though I’m a shadow
acting in the night’s mystery,
I am a child of light,
nothing without its beam.
The village’s earth is a white gauze.
In this soiled world, I can’t find myself.
I’ve never left a footprint
on the path.
I sing movingly
but never with my own voice.
At home, I’m a shadow on the screen.
On stage: a self you can see.

Commons is one of the elements of Torrents and takes the form of art residency open to artists from all different artistic practices who are encouraged to collaborate within and mentor each other throughout the duration of the residency. This project is born within the concept of Torrents where communal spaces transcend geographical boundaries, serving as vibrant hubs of cultural exchange and collective identity formation.

‘Commons’ may be seen as worlds in movement where communities create forms of life in common, sharing resources and building space together. ‘Commoning’ is an active, living process — as commons can only be understood in their actual, embedded circumstances — and their character is defined by how they are experienced subjectively and emotionally through physical form, social organization and culture.

This art residency invites artists from diverse landscapes and geographies to come together and create communal spaces that embody the interconnectedness of individuals and communities across time and space. What forms and languages will the art pieces and interventions take? Will it be possible to recognize specific elements and influences? Or will the result take an alien form, with no tangible references?

Every iteration of the Commons residency program will be a personal collective narrative exploring creativity within a communal space. Art becomes a conduit for dialogue and understanding. Rooted in the essence of Torrents, this element serves as a platform where diverse streams of ideas and contributions converge, forming a nexus of creativity and collaboration. It is a dynamic and mutual exploration of identity, belonging, and interconnectedness —a celebration of the resilience and richness of identities. Can different narratives converge into one, mixing and merging experiences, ancestry, traditions, stories, and histories, creating a comforting and familiar feeling for both the artist and the visitors? Will it result in an intangible expression that has never existed before?

Commons will invite two groups of artists to collaborate and take care of each other. Two groups of artists based in two different locations will both be the guests and the hosts for each other. What Commons wants to encourage is a dialogue between artistic practices, geographies, knowledge, individualities, traditions, and creative processes. Artists will co-produce art pieces that will be presented in a show in the two locations of the residency.

For the first iteration of Commons, the residency program will take place in Borneo and in Berlin, Germany. Borneo, a territory with a complex and distinct identity, is divided between Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia; and it is often neglected in the Western discourse.  Germany's historical involvement with the region traces back to its role in shaping racial theories that feeded colonial ideologies. The German scientist Johann Friedrich Blumenbach classified 'Malay' as a subgroup within his racial taxonomy, a framework that influenced Western scholars and perpetuated colonialist and racist ideologies. Moreover, the German involvement counts the ruling of a portion of Borneo during the late 19th century. Particularly through the figure of Baron Gustav von Overbeck. Von Overbeck was appointed as the Maharaja of Sabah and Raja of Gaja and Sandakan on December 29th, 1877 by the Sultan of Brunei. This role was part of an agreement granting Overbeck territory in what is now the Sabah region in the north of Borneo, along with the concession to exploit the area's mineral resources. The region’s colonial past, shaped by Portuguese, Dutch, and British powers, led to the creation of the modern Malaysian Archipelago as a colonial construct. This history of division, juxtaposed with the pre-colonial reality of an undivided island, invites a reflection on the imposition of borders and their lasting impact. Similar to Berlin's historical division by a wall, Borneo's natural and political boundaries have forged distinct identities and stereotypes among its diverse communities. Yet, beneath these divisions lies a shared cultural heritage that transcends such separations.

This residency seeks to explore the parallels and contrasts between Berlin and Borneo in the context of borders, walls, and identities. Artists are invited to engage with the concept of identity, considering both historical and contemporary perspectives. The program encourages an examination of how physical, geographical, and cultural borders shape community perceptions and identities in both Borneo and Berlin. The Commons residency resonates deeply with the objectives of the Borneo Perantis project by Goethe Malaysia. The first resonance is that both initiatives emphasize the importance of revisiting and redefining historical narratives, especially those shaped by colonial perspectives. While Commons facilitates a creative dialogue between artists from diverse backgrounds, Borneo Perantis engages researchers and local communities in uncovering the oral narratives of Borneo's history, often overlooked and  marginalized by western dominant discourses.  The second resonance is that both projects seek to give space to cultural heritage by giving voice to marginalized communities and challenging the stereotypes that have long distorted perceptions of Borneo. By encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, Commons aligns with Borneo Perantis’ goal of presenting history as a living, evolving narrative. Together, they contribute to a conversation about identity, memory, and the power of cultural exchange across borders and time. Therefore, Artists are encouraged to explore the theme of cultural identity in Borneo and Berlin freely, without the constraints of predefined categories, we seek to explore a variety of ways to express identity and belonging. Artists can explore different artistic mediums and approaches, reflecting on their own identity and the concept of borders. This creative exploration can lead to innovative works that challenge and expand their existing artistic boundaries. The residency’s theme of 'hosting and being a guest' offers an alternative perspective on cultural interactions compared to the colonial past.This residency aims not just to go beyond the internal national boundaries of Borneo, but as well creating a communication with Berlin and beyond. Engaging with Borneo's cultural identity without relying on Western frameworks encourages Berlin artists to explore alternative modes of expression. This process can broaden their understanding of identity and heritage, encouraging them to question and expand their own artistic practices beyond familiar paradigms. Since the residency emphasizes collaboration with local communities and within artists, this engagement offers insights into community-based art practices and the importance of building relationships, exchange, and communication with both local and international fellows.

The team behind Torrents:

Turi Leng Seong Agostino has a profound connection with the themes of identity and belonging, which are central to the Commons residency. His background as a sound artist and researcher, combined with his personal experience growing up in a diasporic context (Malaysian-Italian roots, born in Sydney, Australia, and based in Berlin), equips him with a nuanced understanding of how identity is shaped by geographical, cultural, and historical factors. His work consistently explores the complexities of identity, making him an ideal curator who can deeply engage with the residency's exploration of these themes.

Lia Milanesio brings a wealth of experience in curating and project coordination, with a focus on collaborative and cross-disciplinary projects. Her work at SAVVY Contemporary in Berlin, a space known for fostering dialogues between different cultures and artistic practices, aligns perfectly with the Commons residency's objectives. Additionally, her experience in co-curating the exhibition "on damp earths we wander," which included managing communication and designing a 3D virtual exhibition, demonstrates her ability to integrate innovative approaches and engage diverse audiences. Her skill set will be invaluable in fostering collaboration among artists and facilitating a dynamic exchange of ideas during the residency.

Shub Roy brings over a decade of experience in managing and coordinating creative projects, with a specialization in curated, inspirational, and experiential fields. His background as a composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist complements the interdisciplinary nature of the Commons residency, where different forms of artistic expression will intersect. His expertise in conception and execution of creative projects ensures that the residency will be managed with both artistic sensitivity and practical efficiency, enabling participants to fully explore and expand their creative boundaries.