From Kamuning To Bankside — 08.17.2020
In 2010, Green Papaya was to celebrate its 10th anniversary. But having no money, we decided to sleep over this milestone as if it was just another year. That was until I got an email from Cecilia Alemani inviting Papaya to No Soul for Sale: A Festival of Independents at the Tate Modern in Bankside, London. (Yes, the same Cecilia who is the artistic director of the 2021 Venice Biennale, but moved to 2022 due to the pandemic.)
It was also the Tate's 10th anniversary and to celebrate, the Turbine Hall hosted No Soul for Sale, a gathering of over 70 of the world’s most exciting independent art spaces, non-profit organizations and artist’s collectives, with an eclectic mix of cutting-edge arts events, sound performances, and film screenings, from May 14 to 16, 2010.
Of course, we could hardly contain our excitement but a huge hurdle emerged: the NCCA denied our funding application on the basis that No Soul for Sale was not on its list of accredited festivals. But for heaven's sake! London was just the festival’s second edition after it was successfully launched in New York the year before. Not even an institution like the Tate Modern could convince NCCA that it was a significant global art event.
So it took a "village" of supporters to send the curatorial crew - Yason Banal, Maria Taniguchi and myself - to the UK. Conrado Velasco, who was based in Ireland, came to reinforce us while Bea Camacho flew in from the US to do a durational performance as part of Papaya's presentation. Aside from Maria, Yason, Conrado and Bea, artists Papaya represented in the festival included Argie Bandoy, Ringo Bunoan, Patricia Eustaquio, Nona Garcia, Geraldine Javier, Pow Martinez, Donna Miranda, Ria Muñoz, Jayson Oliveria, Gary-Ross Pastrana, MM Yu and Rox Lee.
It was a blast! And we take this opportunity again to gratefully acknowledge Conrado for the poster and merchandise design; Radioactive Sago Project for the fundraising gig; Suherwan Abu of TAKSU for the fundraising exhibits in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur; Marta Lovina, Trickie Lopa and Olivia Yao for financial contributions; and Maria, Lui Medina and Miko Calo for allowing us to camp in their apartment in London.
As if this was not enough to celebrate 10 years, we had another surprise celebration abroad a few months after. But more on that next Thursday.
Norberto Roldan
July 2, 2020
It was also the Tate's 10th anniversary and to celebrate, the Turbine Hall hosted No Soul for Sale, a gathering of over 70 of the world’s most exciting independent art spaces, non-profit organizations and artist’s collectives, with an eclectic mix of cutting-edge arts events, sound performances, and film screenings, from May 14 to 16, 2010.
Of course, we could hardly contain our excitement but a huge hurdle emerged: the NCCA denied our funding application on the basis that No Soul for Sale was not on its list of accredited festivals. But for heaven's sake! London was just the festival’s second edition after it was successfully launched in New York the year before. Not even an institution like the Tate Modern could convince NCCA that it was a significant global art event.
So it took a "village" of supporters to send the curatorial crew - Yason Banal, Maria Taniguchi and myself - to the UK. Conrado Velasco, who was based in Ireland, came to reinforce us while Bea Camacho flew in from the US to do a durational performance as part of Papaya's presentation. Aside from Maria, Yason, Conrado and Bea, artists Papaya represented in the festival included Argie Bandoy, Ringo Bunoan, Patricia Eustaquio, Nona Garcia, Geraldine Javier, Pow Martinez, Donna Miranda, Ria Muñoz, Jayson Oliveria, Gary-Ross Pastrana, MM Yu and Rox Lee.
It was a blast! And we take this opportunity again to gratefully acknowledge Conrado for the poster and merchandise design; Radioactive Sago Project for the fundraising gig; Suherwan Abu of TAKSU for the fundraising exhibits in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur; Marta Lovina, Trickie Lopa and Olivia Yao for financial contributions; and Maria, Lui Medina and Miko Calo for allowing us to camp in their apartment in London.
As if this was not enough to celebrate 10 years, we had another surprise celebration abroad a few months after. But more on that next Thursday.
Norberto Roldan
July 2, 2020
Bridge over the Turbine Hall with festival signage. Courtesy of Conrado Velasco.
Posters from participating spaces and independent initiatives. Courtesy of Conrado Velasco.
Video installation by Maria Taniguchi in collaboration with Donna Miranda, Pow Martinez and Ria Muñoz. Courtesy of Conrado Velasco.
Guest browsing artist portfolios. Courtesy of Conrado Velasco.
Bea Camacho's day-long performance at the Turbine Halls. Courtesy of Conrado Velasco.
Live installation Wrong Place/The Last Warhol Stand In by Yason Banal. Courtesy of Conrado Velasco.
Yason manning the merchandise table. Courtesy of Conrado Velasco.
Happy customers with Papaya merchandise. Courtesy of Conrado Velasco.
Cecilia Alemani, Massimiliano Gioni and Maurizio Cattelan, curators of No Soul for Sale at the Turbine Hall. Courtesy of Conrado Velasco.
