Hungary and Portugal: The Two Artistic Residences

The first stop of this artistic journey took place last June in Budapest and Zsennye, Hungary. It was an incredible kick off experience of enrichment and connection. The artists embarked on a ten-day journey from June 4 to 13 engaging with our esteemed project partners, fostering meaningful connections delveding into thoughtprovoking topics about the history of the transatlantic trade and its impact on the society. It was the perfect opportunity to start shaping their project and honing the disciplines they  adhered to make their meaningful artworks come to life.

Four months later, their creative endeavour followed with the Lisbon Artistic Residency.  On October 16th to 25th, the artists reunited and shared their creativity while working on their projects within the Portuguese art scene, exploring the connections and vibes that only Lisbon could give them. 



📍It’s not a coincidence that Lisbon was chosen as the venue for this event: the Portuguese captial has a deep historical connection with the transatlantic enslaved people trade since 1500. It became a central hub for the trade of enslaved Africans, serving as both a focal point for receiving captives and subsequently deporting them to other Portuguese cities and abroad. 



The residency was brinded with the participation of several portugese organisations key to the topic on analysis. DJASS-ASSOCIAÇÃO de Afrodescendentes, an anti-racist association dedicated to fighting for the rights of Africans and people of African descent in Portugal leaded a challenging group disscussion. Moreover, artists also embarked on a trip through Lisbon led by Mimas, a local guide from Cova da Moura. 

The centrepiece of this residency was the artistic showcase, where our talented artists displayed their creations and had the chance to talk about them to a diverse audience, that included local art enthusiasts and influential individuals from the arts and culture sphere: it was a unique opportunity for all the artists to immerse themselves in the creative scene of Lisbon and to prepare for the final exhibition in 2024.



In conclusion, both residencies ensued in a blossoming fertile ground for the artist to explore and exchange intellectual discourse, historical exploration, and creative expression. These events underscored the power of art in exposing history and reimagining the collective memory of the transatlantic enslaved people trade.

VR Workshops in Copenhaguen by Khora

Inbetween the artists residences, MANIFEST Artists Gombo, Daniela Jakrlova’ Riva, Collectif On a Slamé sur la Lune formed by Fred Ebami, Calvin Yug, and Albert Morisseau Leroy, Stiching Skyline by Monique Dikmoet, Tyrone Rickey-Lee and Jaqueline Zamora, Magalie Mobetie and David Gumbs travelled to the flourishing Danish city hub to experiment with XR and Virtual Reality for their creative projects with state-of-the-art technology. 



From August 2nd to September 18th, our production studio Khora leaded several work in progress workshops for the artists to explore and nurture their artworks with the latest technology. 

🗣️Let’s see what Kira Lund, project manager at Khora for the XR artwork productions, had to say about the experience; “By collaborating with artists in the realm of XR, we embark on a journey to reshape Europe’s collective memory of the transatlantic trade of enslaved people. Our role is not only about keeping the production timelines; it’s also about fostering a dynamic synergy between technology and artistry. By nurturing creative partnerships, we seek to use the power of immersive storytelling and form a bond between past and present. And by guiding artists in the XR landscape, we try to shape new projects and co-create legacies that can give light and voice to history, built on the artists’ experiences and bold ideas”