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A modest creation about ambition - Jordan Azcune

A solo exhibition and an international residency have resulted from Jordan’s studio and mentorship project.

What

Emerging visual artist Jordan Azcune was invited by HASSELL Architects Brisbane Studio to develop a two week public solo exhibition for their studio space as part of the 2019 Asia Pacific Architecture Forum.

Working with Urban Art Projects (UAP) and artists Lincoln Austin and Leonard Brown over four months, Jordan employed both ancient and contemporary manufacturing techniques to develop a body of work for the exhibition including Babel, his first large scale sculpture.

Babel, sculptures and wall works work developed were exhibited at Jordan’s first solo exhibition A Modest Creation about Ambition at the HASSELL Architects Brisbane Studio in March 2019.

Jordan’s initial supported project has led to further immediate opportunities for Jordan with a month-long residency and open studio at the The Walls artspace (Gold Coast), a group exhibition at the Brisbane Quarter, a public artwork commission at Home of the Arts, Gold Coast and an international residency in Miami, Florida to develop a solo show at The Walls.

 

When and where

November 2018 to March 2019, Brisbane, Ipswich, Northgate

 

 

Arts Queensland contribution

$10,000 – Individuals Fund 

Arts Queensland supports individual artists and cultural workers to participate in transformational professional and career development opportunities.

 

Outcomes

  • The residency enabled Jordan to develop and manufacture a large scale, sight specific art work, experiment with many new materials and explore new directions in his practice. The work has captured the interest of many new audiences and demonstrated his capability of achieving a project of this scale.
  • Jordan has opportunities to present his work through both an Open Studio at The Walls, Gold Coast and a solo exhibition A modest creation about ambition hosted by HASSELL Architects Brisbane Studio as part of the Asia Pacific Architecture Forum in 2019. 
  • Following the exhibition at Hassell, five of Jordan’s works were presented at the Brisbane Quarter Queensland Art Showcase, titled Interior Views. A collaboration between Brisbane Quarter and Innerspace Contemporary Art, the exhibition showcased the work of six contemporary artists.
  • Jordan has been in discussion with UAP and Hassell regarding future collaborations.

 

Learnings and reflections

As a young artist, Jordan was challenged to find his voice and hold strong to his vision for the artwork on several occasions, which was also a valuable learning experience.

Jordan reflected that the challenges he faced during the project were exciting and supported new learning

I will be the first to admit I still have room for improvement in all areas, this was by no means a perfect project, I faced hurdles and improvisation was necessary. Many of the challenges came from the unknown - new materials, new skills, new collaborations, new locations. This was also the most exciting part of the project, the part where my work evolved the most.

 

Tips for others

The project may start somewhere you know but it will probably lead to somewhere you don’t yet. The most important thing is to adapt and let one project move on to the next whatever it may be, search for it too. Arts Queensland helped me to grow my project to more than what it could have been, this is now spilling out into future projects.

 

What next?

Jordan will be undertaking his first international residency in Miami Florida in August 2019 to build on his research into large scale works and religious architecture. Jordan has been commissioned to create a new public artwork at the Home of the Arts' outdoor precinct at the Gold Coast. He is also a finalist in the Churchie National Emerging Artist Award 2019.  

 

Find out more

Instagram: jordanazcune.com

Time-lapsed video of the progress of the large scale work

A pdf version of this case study is available here.