What do you know about residences and residents? Do you think it’s about royal palaces or James Bond colleagues? Not at all! One of the definitions of «residence» given in the academic glossary is indeed the location of the government, heads of state and high-ranking officials. However, there is another interpretation: a residence is a place of permanent residence or stay of someone. Accordingly, residents are those who are there. You ask, what is Zhytomyr for here? So we have our residences! Didn’t know?
To begin with, the history of residences, including creative ones, is not so new. Travel for artists has always been a source of inspiration, but residences in the modern sense began to appear in the late nineteenth century. Artists received resources for creative development – time, place, well-organized life, materials, and instead produced and materialized their artistic discoveries. The residences became intermediary organizations between the artist and the territory. Most often, the residence format is used to solve a certain problem, for example, to restore the same area, give it new life, or to satisfy the local cultural demand.

Another story is when there is certain equipment that the artist himself cannot use for various reasons in his studio, and in the format of a residence – everything is in place, at hand. Artists do not prepare their project for the residency, they are offered to focus on the study of the territory or specific professional tasks aimed at developing a new vision or a new product.

There are many residences in the world, such as prestigious museums, but getting there is not easy. For example, the Queens Museum, an art museum in New York, has not only exhibits but also a large educational center and offers a two-year residence for artists. There, artists can work in the museum space several days a week and attend educational seminars, and this gives a very serious boost in their careers. There are also programs that specialize in combining art and technology, which is very relevant today. For example, the New Museum in New York in 2014 opened the first museum incubator New Inc – a unique space where artists combine art, design and technology, implementing project tasks. Even Facebook in 2005 set an example for large corporations, demonstrating how interesting and productive this format of work can be. Mark Zuckerberg then invited artist David Choe to an individual residence to perform several murals in the company’s office. For this, David Choe, by the way, received a stake. Not bad, right? Since 2012, Facebook curators have regularly invited artists to work in various branches. And Google tested Tilt Brush, a new tool for creating 3D images in virtual reality, inviting artists, animators, designers and even dancers.

But it’s not just about foreign experience – powerful projects in the format of residences are also being implemented in Ukraine. For example, Kyiv A-I-R is a Kyiv residence for young artists, initiated by the Kyiv Platform for Contemporary Art, which has been operating since 2013; KERAMResidence of the National Museum-Reserve of Ukrainian Pottery in Opishne, which began its existence in 2012; Isolation Foundation has been working with residents since 2010. You probably don’t need to list all the existing projects – you can search for them online, google them and apply for a group or individual residence – each format has its advantages.
But where is Zhytomyr? The fact is that you do not need to go far to participate in such a project. It is here, at the Meters, that similar projects work in the format of individual and group residences.

At the end of the summer in Zhytomyr the residence «V: UNCASE. Return», in which 15 artists from different cities of Ukraine became participants in the sound project at the plant «Electric Measurer». The task set for the participants was to answer the question: «Is it possible to find something new in sound?». During 10 days there were a lot of interesting things: four-day educational intensive work with sound, individual work on sound projects; exchange of experience and evening artists-currents from residents and, of course, at the end of all – an exposition of the achievements of residents and residents of the «Measurer».

Participants worked in four sound studios, participated in educational programs and workshops, where they learned about sound ethnography, delved into modular synthesis, mastered the use of analog and digital sensors, and created patches. music synthesizer set of sound parameters of a certain programmable sound) and even worked with the body and voice.

Thanks to the uniqueness of the «Electric Measurer», which once produced electronic musical instruments, the «Sound Laboratory» was created. This provided the basis for the organization of individual residences «SIGMA-21».

It is taken into account that for some artists it is not the collective but the individual format that is more comfortable and they are more productive alone (if productivity can be considered a marker of creativity). Individual residences were organized for such people at the Measurer this year. The participants had a task: to show new facets of sound art, to create original sound practices. Three individual participants and one tandem of two residents worked at the intersection of art, music and experimental technology. The format of the participant’s stay at the residence also differed: the artist works alone, but the residences overlap, so it was possible to communicate with colleagues and interact with the community of «Measurer» and the city. Residents conducted art talks, master classes, gave lectures and prepared an open presentation of their project.

You already know one of the SIGMA residents, Oleksiy Shatalov. About others – stories ahead. What the residents created could be seen on the Meters in the first weekend of September. It makes no sense to retell it, because it must be seen, or rather – heard in person. Let’s just say that it was interesting, festive and sometimes even impressive. But also a unique art that does not leave indifferent. We are sure that «Measurer» will soon impress with new ideas, and for us, who are proud of our city, there is a new reason for this: there are mega-cool art residences in Zhytomyr, on «Measurer».

By the way, all residents now also consider Zhytomyr almost their hometown. But about this a little later…
Reference In 2021, the project became possible thanks to the partnership of the Innovation Park «Meter», the platform «Island», TCM Audio, the plant «Electric Meter» and the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.
Curator (s) of the residence: «V: UNCASE.Return»” – Olesya Onikienko and Sasha Dolgy (NGO «Institute of Sound») in collaboration with Anna Khvyl.
Curator (s) of the residence «SIGMA-2021» – Alexandra Halep (Carbon) and Alexander Guzeev (Heavy Culture / Heavy Culture).