At first, I thought I would draw a diagram to show all the different facets to this residency experience, and in trying to communicate how important they were in different ways. The truth is, after thinking about it more, it is clear to me that they comprise one whole very important experience, and so, given so many different aspects to the creative process, I decided to keep them bundled together, as a whole. Here is what that sounds like, in words.
It’s really hard to stop. To take time out. And simply focus on the things that matter to you most, like writing, for example. My residency at Studio 88 helped me achieve this. I completed my first 10,000 words of my new book Becoming Australian, about a 10,000km motorcycle journey I took around outback and coastal Australia in 20024. I completed the first draft of the short story Fragum – an account, and encounter with Shell Beach, Western Australia, and after the passing of my father. The narrative of Fragum deals with love, loss, grief and precarity. I also created a video artwork for the final exhibition based on that same story. Alongside this, I gave a presentation at the opening of the festival, about my experience of 25 years of socially engaged theatre-making in Southeast Asia – I was usefully, after thought, break this period down into three clear strands – empowered to tell stories creatively by others, empowered to tell stories creatively via participation, and empowered to tell stories creatively through collaboration. I went on to run a storytelling workshop for 10 people, offering simple structures to help build confidence in sharing narrative about who we are.
So, that’s quite a lot of product, in one month…
But here’s the thing. Aom did not ask me to produce anything. She simply offered me space to be, and explore. This, as a component of the creative process, is crucial. And to have that opportunity in the quiet surrounds of Doi Saket is perfect. I was able to engage with other artists too, or simply hide away in the top of my small house. Away from the distractions of ‘home’, I was writing quickly. And reflecting on the shift away from that 25 years of theatre-making I mentioned, to writing full time. A focus on telling my own stories, rather than mainly facilitating others to tell theirs. This was liberating. The element of ‘reflection’ was also critical in helping me move on. Until I could properly celebrate the work I have done up until now, I could not really leap forward with the new processes and practices I was trying to instil. The festival event gave me time to focus on the past, and also let it go simultaneously, and then just simply inhabit the present moment – and write. And that’s what I did, in the most part.
The residency is an excellent opportunity to make friends. I reconnected with so many artists from the Chiang Mai area who I have not seen much in the last few years. I also made new friends, with other artists staying at Studio 88. And a particularly important friendship with Abi Salami. Some of our interactions were critical in helping me deal with some of the more politicised and complex areas of my writing. We were able to help each other, move forward with difficult creative and political terrain.
The residency is great for networking, and for gaining support from our artistic community. It also brought me crashing up against some important realities, and helped get me to the other side. And all this time, there was no pressure to produce.
All the supporting features of the residency; the public events, the online exposure, the quiet and the peace to work on your own terms, the closing exhibition, the access to other artists – woven together, I got much more than I expected.
Thank you Aom and the Studio 88 team for such a wonderful experience.
Read more about Dr Matt Yoxall’s residency with us here.
If you would like to join our art community, Studio 88 is accepting applications on an ongoing basis. Check out our residency program and apply now.
Studio 88 Artist Residency 