Gasworks, the Jan Warburton Charitable Trust and the Office for Contemporary Art Aotearoa are delighted to announce that Shiraz Sadikeen will be going to London in October as the eighth New Zealand artist to undertake a residency at Gasworks. More than 90 applications were received for the 2024 residency, almost twice the number of applications in previous years.
Shiraz Sadikeen (b. 1989) lives and works in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. He makes paintings and sculptures that mediate their own conditions of production and reception. Often made using ready-made or found materials, as well as various processes of abstraction and formal displacement, Shiraz’s work explores the associations between these objects and the situations from which they originally derive. During his residency at Gasworks, Shiraz will research the current political, economic and ideological circumstances of the United Kingdom, reflecting on its changing relationship to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Shiraz completed a BA (International Relations) at Victoria University Wellington in 2013, and a BFA and an MFA art Elam School of Fine Arts in 2018 and 2020 respectively. Recent solo exhibitions have included, The Natural Rate, Treadler, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland (2024), Affirmation, Savage Garden, Naarm, Melbourne (2022), Ends, Coastal Signs, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland (2022), Securicraft, Coastal Signs, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland (2021), Geist, Neo Gracie, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland (2019). Shiraz has been a founding member of a number of art initiatives, including Treadler (2023–ongoing), Neo Gracie (2019–2023) and Samoa House Library (2019–2020).
About the residency
The Gasworks residency offers an early / mid-career artist, opportunities for self-led professional development, artistic exchange and experimentation and development of new international networks, and as such can be significant for the advancement of their career. Alongside the time for extensive practice-based research and access to artists in London with similar interests, Gasworks provides opportunities for the artist to develop new work and showcase their practice, work ethic and conceptual focuses to an international audience, including curators and collectors, unavailable in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The residency provides return flights to London, 24/7-access to a private studio space in the Gasworks building, accommodation in a house shared with three or four other international artists in residence with Gasworks, plus living and materials allowance.
The critical nature at the heart of Gasworks encourages the fostering of active dialogues with local creative practitioners, including artists, curators and writers, as well as direct engagement with important London-based artist-run spaces, collectives, galleries, museums, patrons and collectors.
The three-month, fully funded residency will take place from October – December 2024 and is made possible through the very generous support of the Jan Warburton Charitable Trust, private individuals who contribute to NZ Friends of Gasworks, Emma Lewisham and the British Council Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific.
Natasha Beckman, Director of the British Council Aotearoa New Zealand and Pacific, says ”This is unique opportunity for Shiraz to expand and refine his artistic skills in London, a city known for its diversity and vibrant visual arts community. Embodying the essence of cultural exchange, a core value of the British Council, through this residency we know that Shiraz will share valuable insights about Aotearoa with others during his time in London.”
Emma Lewisham, commented “I am honoured to be partnering with Gasworks to help support Shiraz through their London residency. This initiative provides an unparalleled opportunity for Shiraz to research, experiment and develop their discipline alongside a community of other international creatives, receive extensive pastoral and curatorial support, and develop and expand their professional networks in what can provide a significant advancement in their career.”
About Gasworks
Established in 1994, Gasworks is a non-profit contemporary visual art organisation working between UK & international practices, offering a cohesive space of critical dialogue & studio driven practices. Gasworks run a highly respected international residency program offering artists the opportunity to research new work in London. Events, workshops & open-studio events are organised to engage the wider community, as well to provide the resident artists an opportunity to develop & expand their professional networks. Through Gasworks, curator and patron visits ensure that the artists are provided with an active landscape to ensure the exposure of their artistic practices.
This will be the eighth consecutive Gasworks Residency for a NZ artist. Previous artists in residence at Gasworks are Sriwhana Spong, Katrina Beekhuis, Hikalu Clarke, Christina Pataialii, Sarah Rose, Campbell Patterson and Sorawit Songsataya.
About Jan Warburton Charitable Trust
The Jan Warburton Charitable Trust (JWCT) was established by Dunedin-based collector and philanthropist, Jan Warburton, to support the development of contemporary art in Aotearoa New Zealand, with a particular focus on late-emerging and mid-career artists.
The residency for a New Zealand artist at Gasworks was developed by the Trust in 2016 and has been supported over the years by a number of individuals including David and Libby Richwhite, Dame Jenny Gibbs, Jenny and Andrew Smith, Sonja and Glenn Hawkins, Shirley Ann and Rick Mannering, Tim Melville, Jan Warburton, Rosemary and Tim Auld and Ngila Boyd and Michael Lett. Without their generosity, the residency would not be possible.
About Office for Contemporary Art Aotearoa
The Office for Contemporary Art Aotearoa (OCAA) works in partnership with other organisations and individuals, both from New Zealand and internationally to enable and facilitate the presentation of work by New Zealand artists at major overseas exhibitions; and to encourage exchange and dialogue between visual arts practitioners from New Zealand and their international counterparts. OCAA was formed by Stephanie Post in early 2024 and is based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. OCAA is delighted to work with Gasworks and Jan Warburton Charitable Trust to facilitate the annual residency at Gasworks and is extremely grateful to all those who support the funding of the residency.
About Emma Lewisham
This is the first year that leading beauty brand, Emma Lewisham, has supported the residency. Founded in New Zealand, Emma Lewisham pioneers evidence based, natural skincare that is circular-designed, certified climate positive and endorsed by Dr Jane Goodall.
About the British Council Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific
British Council builds connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. Through arts and culture, British Council Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific works to connect the people of Aotearoa New Zealand and the UK. The British Council are delighted to support Shiraz as part of Gasworks’ unique residency programme, connecting artists with UK cultural professionals, collectors and patrons and giving them time to research and develop their practice in London.
Images
- Shiraz Sadikeen Photo by Meg Porteous
- Shiraz Sadikeen, 'Washer dollar coin bone wax', 20 x 20 x 2 mm 2022 Image courtesy of the artist and Coastal Signs Photograph by Alex North
- Shiraz Sadikeen Mug Ceramic deadbolt datepit 95 x 110mm 2024 image courtesy of the artist and Treadler Photo by Alex North
- Shiraz Sadikeen, 'Locke transfer on wall', 50 x 60 mm 2021 Image courtesy of the artist and Coastal Signs Photograph by Alex North
- Shiraz Sadikeen 'Sack', Acrylic on Canvas 1200x900mm 2024 image courtesy of the artist and Treadler Photo by Alex North
- Shiraz Sadikeen, 'The Natural Rate Composition with Phillips Curve', Acrylic on Canvas 1200x900 mm Image courtesy of the artist and Treadler Photo by Alex North 1