Our goal is to support artists in exploring their practice through experimentation and creative exploration. We believe in encouraging artists to “go off on a tangent” to see what happens, to see where things can go.
我們的目標是支持藝術家能確保透過持續的探索與實驗來發展他們的創作實踐。我們鼓勵藝術家「偏離正道」，看看會發生什麼事，同時探索事物的可能性。
Tangent Projects Lead Team © Tangent Projects
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Tangent Projects
SS SPACE SPACE: How would you describe Tangent Projects?
TANGENT PROJECTS: As a legal entity Tangent Projects is an independent not-for-profit art space situated in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona. We house a non-commercial art gallery and provide seven affordable artist studios. Six of the seven studios are for long term rental and one is for our artist residency programmes.
However, as a day to day project, we are very much an arts community. Working in the arts is tough and lacks both financial and emotional support, we need community to keep us going, to keep us engaged and to keep us motivated.
We strongly believe in allowing for experimentation without the pressure of any potential end result being seen as a success or failure. Our goal is to support artists in exploring their practice through experimentation and creative exploration. We believe in encouraging artists to "go off on a tangent” to see what happens, to see where things can go.
As part of this, Tangent Projects, as an entity and as a community, are dedicated to challenging inequality within the arts. We actively seek to give visibility to under-represented artists. Our mission is to showcase exemplary works, by artists from a wide spectrum of backgrounds, across various media and platforms, including publications, exhibitions, residencies, performances, and online commissions.
As part of this, Tangent Projects, as an entity and as a community, are dedicated to challenging inequality within the arts. We actively seek to give visibility to under-represented artists. Our mission is to showcase exemplary works, by artists from a wide spectrum of backgrounds, across various media and platforms, including publications, exhibitions, residencies, performances, and online commissions.
We continue to invite artists to push the boundaries of their practice, while advocating strongly for diversity and inclusivity in the art world. As such, our mission is to create an inclusive and equitable environment that celebrates innovation while supporting a community of creatives.
Reading Room 23 Radial Radient
SS: How did your space begin? Could you tell me what prompted you/ your team to start this space and its programming?
TP: In late 2015 Tangent Projects started out as an itinerant curatorial project that encouraged artists to look at the ‘tangents’ in their practice, to see what potential there might be in ideas that weren’t seen as the main discourse of their practice. After 3 years it was time to house the project, and to expand our dialogue to address the on going inequalities in the art world. It become necessary to create a project that not only gives visibility but also is able to offer space, work space, community space, a space of and for reflection.
It was important to bring a variety of conversations into the project as it evolved from a nomadic project into a project with a physical space, so the programming has always reflected that.
Tangent Projects now has a lead team which not only deals with the running of the space but also future plans and ideas, funding and project development, The lead team are:
Founding Director - Tsering Frykman-Glen (Parodi)
Project Development - Lizette Nin
Project Coordinator - Agnes Essonti Luque
Studio Coordinator - Agustina Fioretti
SS: What is a typical day like at Tangent Projects?
TP: The gallery space is normally open Tuesday to Friday 11am - 4pm, and during those hours the gallery is open to the public with a team of 2 to 3 people overseeing the space and working on upcoming events and projects. Usually one of the lead team and 1 or 2 interns will be onsite during those hours. There is a lot of admin to do when running an art space - emails - who knew that most of our working lives would be filled with answering emails!
At other times, we could be having meetings with artists, curators etc. Or installing or taking down an exhibition in the gallery. It can be pretty varied.
However, the studios artists have 24 hour access to their studios so there are often people working all hours of the day.
We have community gatherings when we can. When new residency artists start their residencies they do a presentation of their work and we follow that up with a communal lunch. The same when a new long term artist joins the space. Also the gallery exhibition openings are pretty sociable and most of the studio artists come along.
SS: Could you share a few programmes that Tangent Projects runs?
TP: We have a small gallery, which is usually scheduled for up to 18 months in advance. It is a mix of exhibitions by studio artists and by artists from outside of the studios. The programming is usually in the hands of Tsering and she likes to work on long term projects. Next year will see a big change with the exhibitions being run more by the studio artists, while Tsering takes some time off to work on other projects.
Once a year we run a Reading Room, which is ongoing collaborative project conceived in 2021 that brings together creatives and audiences to share texts and be part of a mutual, collective experience. During each edition of the Reading Room, the gallery is converted into a reading space - a place to sit, meet, read, and be, and there are events one evening a week. (Click here for this years info)
We have a few different residency programmes. Our Studio Residency programme runs 3 times a year, each cycle running for 3 months. Each cycle is for 2 artists, which means we have 6 artists join us each year through that programme. Artists apply through an open call. We also have the Cotangent Residency Programme, which is much shorter and is by invitation. It is usually for 4-6 weeks in the summer but we have also run it in the winter. That is also for 2 artists each cycle.
The studio artists also run a Process Sharing group which meet approximately every 2 weeks to share where they are with some process or project, to get or give feedback. It is a really lovely aspect of being part of the Tangent Project studios.
SS: How does Tangent Projects connect with and support artists/creatives?
TP: Tangent Projects supports artists by providing an exhibition space for artists to show their work, offering affordable studios, organising open studios, studio visits with curators and other artists, creating a community and a network, and offering regular free cultural activities. Most projects at Tangent Projects invite participation and exchange, helping to establish a wider network of artists and cultural enthusiasts in Barcelona and beyond.
As cultural workers in a small city, we are familiar with Barcelona's art scene and frequently attend exhibitions, openings, and events by local artists and art spaces. This may not seem like much but showing up is also a really important part of support.
Barcelona
online interview
2024
translator: Sean Tseng
photographs © Tangent Projects
SS: How do you envision Tangent Projects in the next five years?
TP: Tsering - I would hope we can continue in much the same way, while there is a need and an interest we will still be here. I hope that we can find a way to take some projects to other spaces, for example I am currently investigating taking the Reading Room to some other spaces. That would be a nice outcome, if Tangent went back to being a bit nomadic!
Agnes - I envision the future of Tangent Projects as an extension of what it is now - an alternative space to the hegemonic art ecosystem and where underrepresented artists find their place to be and create. I would like to be able to continue to support self-organisation and generate a community in which each artist takes co-responsibility for the tasks necessary to sustain the space, as well as generate more open spaces that invite exchange and collective growth.
Lizette - I hope we can continue to be the same safe space were people can find refuge to create, to develop and grow, I hope we can continue to be a segway for new ways to create. I want us to continue to support our artists as they need to, also to show them our journey and continue to cheer them up to continue and never stop creating what lives in their imagination.
Agustina - I hope Tangent Projects continues growing in the same direction as it is doing at the moment, maybe even having more connections with other studios, curators and artists from Barcelona but also outside Spain. I also hope that the process sharing can grow into something larger. We are already inviting artists from outside Tangent Projects and I believe it is something important to build community and support artists.
SS SPACE SPACE:你會如何形容 Tangent Projects？
TANGENT PROJECTS: Tangent Projects 是一個位於巴塞隆納 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat 區域的獨立非營利藝術空間。我們擁有一個非商業的藝術畫廊，並提供 7 個讓藝術家可負擔租金的工作室，其中 6 個工作室供藝術家長期承租，並保留一個工作室專用於我們空間的藝術家駐村計劃。
然而，從日常運營的角度來看，我們更像是一個藝術社區。在藝術領域這個既艱辛又缺乏財務和情感支持的工作，我們需要通過這個社區來幫助我們持續前行，並得以保持參與感和行動力。
我們堅信應該讓藝術家在沒有成功或失敗壓力的情況下進行實驗。因此，我們的目標是支持藝術家能確保透過持續的探索與實驗來發展他們的創作實踐。我們鼓勵藝術家「偏離正道」，看看會發生什麼事，同時探索事物的可能性。
無論Tangent Projects 是作為藝術機構抑或是社群團體，我們皆致力於挑戰藝術界的不平等，並積極幫助能見度被低估的藝術家。我們的展覽也以展示來自不同背景的藝術創作為使命，展出的作品涵蓋各種媒材之外，形式也包括出版物、展覽、駐村計劃、表演和線上計畫等。
我們持續邀請藝術家挑戰自身藝術實踐的邊界，以提倡導藝術界的多樣性與包容性。Tangent Projects致力於打造一個兼容並蓄與公平的創新環境，並支持藝術家與創意工作者和其社群的發展。
Tangent Projects
巴賽隆納
線上訪談
2024
翻譯：曾彥翔（Sean Tseng）
影像提供 © Tangent Projects
Reading Room 23 Mark Shorter
SS: 當初是什麼使你與夥伴決定要成立 Tangent Projects 呢？
TP: 當初是什麼使你與夥伴決定要成立 Tangent Projects 呢？
2015年底，Tangent Projects 以一個巡迴策展計畫的形式展開，當時我們以鼓勵藝術家探索自身創作中的「切線」，也就是挖掘那些不被視為創作主軸的想法中可能蘊含的潛力。經過三年的發展，我們決定為這個計畫找到一個實體據點，以擴大對話的範疇，回應藝術界持續存在的不平等現象。因此，我們認為有必要建立一個不僅提供能見度，也能提供展演場地、工作空間、社群與反思的計畫。
隨著 Tangent Projects 從一開始具游牧性質的形式轉為擁有實體空間的型態，隨之也融入了更多元的對話，並且成為發展過程中的關鍵。而我們的各項計畫也始終反映了這樣的精神。
目前，Tangent Projects 由核心團隊成員負責空間運營、未來規劃、經費籌措及計畫發展等。核心團隊成員包括：
創辦總監 - Tsering Frykman-Glen (Parodi)
計畫發展負責人 - Lizette Nin
計畫專員 - Agnes Essonti Luque
工作室專員 - Agustina Fioretti
SS:可以和我們分享在 Tangent Projects 的一天嗎？
TP: Tangent Projects 的畫廊空間通常於週二至週五上午 11 點至下午 4 點開放大眾參觀，開放期間期間會由一位核心團隊成員及一到二名實習生負責管理空間，並籌備即將舉辦的活動或計畫。另外，經營藝術空間需要處理許多行政庶務，例如回覆電子郵件——誰會想到其實我們的工作時間竟然大多數都花在回信上呢！
除此之外，我們可能會與藝術家、策展人等開會，或忙於布展和撤展。這些工作的內容相當多元且廣泛。
另一方面，在 Tangent Projects 進駐的藝術家擁有 24 小時的工作室使用權，因此在空間中不同時段都可以看到許多人在工作和創作。
我們也會不定期舉辦各類活動，例如，當有新的藝術家開始進駐時，他們會分享自己的創作，並會在分享後一起共進午餐。同樣地，當新的長期進駐的藝術家到來時，也會舉辦類似的交流活動。此外，畫廊的展覽開幕通常非常熱鬧，進駐工作室的藝術家也大多會出席參與。
Open Studios 23 Print Workshop
SS: 可以請你和我們分享一些 Tangent Projects 的計畫嗎？
TP: 我們有一間小型畫廊，通常會提前最多十八個月安排展覽計畫，展覽內容不限於進駐工作室的藝術家作品，也包括向外邀請的其他藝術家創作。目前的展覽規劃主要由擅長推行長期研究計畫的 Tsering 負責。不過我們的藝廊空間明年將有較大的變化，畫廊空間的展覽計畫將由工作室的藝術家主導，而 Tsering 將暫時休息，並投入於其他計畫。
我們每年會舉辦一次名為「閱讀室」（Reading Room）的活動，這是一個從 2021 年開始的長期合作計畫。在這個活動中，我們會將創作者與觀眾聚集在一起分享文本，共同參與一場極具互動的集體閱讀經驗。在每一屆的「閱讀室」活動中，畫廊會被改造成一個適宜閱讀的空間：一個可以席地而坐、與人相遇、徜徉閱讀和盡情放鬆的地方。在活動期間內的每一週我們會選擇一個夜晚舉辦相關的活動。（點擊此處了解今年「閱讀室」的詳細資訊）
另外，我們也有舉辦過幾個不同的駐村計畫。包括每年會舉辦三次且為期三個月的工作室駐村計畫（Studio Residency Programme），藝術家可以透過每年的公開徵件申請參與駐村計畫。而每次計畫我們會接待兩位藝術家，每年透過這個計畫總共會有六位藝術家進駐。除此之外，我們還有 Cotangent 駐村計畫（Cotangent Residency Programme），這個計畫時間較短，並且是採邀請制，通常在夏季進行為期四至六週駐村計畫（隨然也曾在冬季舉辦），這個計畫每次會邀請兩位藝術家共同參與。
進駐工作室的藝術家們每兩週需參與一次過程分享（Process Sharing Group）活動，在活動中大家將分享自己的創作過程或計畫進展，並透過討論與分享給予同期藝術家建議。這是進駐於 Tangent Projects 工作室中特別令人期待的的一部分！
SS: Tangent Projects 如何串連並支持藝術工作者呢？
TP: Tangent Projects 透過不同的方式支持藝術家，包括提供展覽空間、價格平實的工作室、舉辦開放工作室、安排策展人及其他藝術家的工作室訪問，同時也會定期舉辦免費的文化交流活動等，以此建立起在藝術領域中的社群與網絡。大部分 Tangent Projects 舉辦的計畫都非常鼓勵藝術家參與及交流，希望能藉此加深藝術家及文化愛好者建立更廣泛的連結，而這些連結也不僅限於巴塞隆納，還能延伸到其他地區。
作為一個在小城市工作的文化團體，我們對巴塞隆納的藝術圈相當熟悉，並經常參與當地藝術家與藝術空間舉辦的展覽、開幕以及各類活動。雖然「出席活動」看似微不足道，但其實這是支持藝術社群一個非常重要的方式。
Tangent Projects Gallery
SS: 你如何想像 Tangent Projects 在未來五年內的發展呢？
TP: Tsering - 我希望我們能夠繼續以現在的方式運作，只要需求和興趣依然存在，我們就會一直存在下去。我也期待能將部分計畫帶到其他空間，例如，我正在考慮將「閱讀室」（Reading Room）在不同場域中舉辦。如果 Tangent Projects 能再度回到帶有些許遊牧性質的計畫，那將會是個很棒的發展！
Agnes - 我希望未來的 Tangent Projects 能延續現有的精神，成為一個不同於主流藝術生態的替代空間，讓那些未被發掘的藝術家找到他們自身的立足點進行創作。我也希望我們能繼續支持藝術家自主組織的活動，並建立一個社群，讓藝術家共同經營並負責空間運作的責任。同時，我期待能創造更多能促進交流與集體成長的平台。
Lizette - 我希望我們能持續成為一個讓人安心創作的空間，讓大家在這裡找到創作、成長與發展的避風港。我也希望我們能繼續成為探索新創作方式的橋樑，支持藝術家實踐他們的需求。同時，也能與他們分享我們的旅程，鼓勵他們不斷前行，並能持續將內心的想像實踐為創作。
Agustina - 我希望 Tangent Projects 能以當前的方向繼續成長，也許能與更多來自巴塞隆納及海外的工作室、策展人和藝術家建立連結。我也希望能透過過程分享（Process Sharing Group）的活動能進一步發展——目前我們已經邀請 Tangent Projects 以外的藝術家參與，而我相信這對於建立社群和支持藝術家來說將會是非常重要的。