If paradise is half as nice #6

If Paradise Is Half As Nice (IPIHAN) is a self-initiated art project organised by a group of artists covering various disciplines. It is aimed at leaving the comfort of the studio to experiment with new ways to conceive concepts, works of art, and ultimately an exhibition. Each year, we as a group travel to Leipzig to pick an abandoned factory building and use it for one month as a source of inspiration, a studio and an exhibition space. We intervene and react to the building which will ultimately result in an exhibition on the spot. IPIHAN has grown from a small illegal art project into a well organised initiative that functions as a traveling collective. A special project that addresses the phenomena of vacancy,urban decay and urban revitalisation in Leipzig and similar areas in its own way. It brings creative solutions and ideas through the means of art.

The first three years the project was done mostly illegally; sneaking into the same factory building in secret for a month. We made our works without the use of electrical equipment and had to be very quiet. The exhibitions that these projects resulted in soon created a buzz within the Leipzig art scene. In collaboration with the 'Day for industrial culture' and other institutes, we were able to progress the project into something bigger, resulting in 500+ people visiting last years’ edition. This year, just like last year, we have the possibility to work in an old building with permission. This has great benefits. It allows us to work longer days, make more noise, do bigger interventions and have the use of more tools.

Thanks to good contact with buildingowners, the city of Leipzig and other institutes in the city, there project gained a lot of support. But as with all growing projects, it costs more money to make sure the quality stays the same. With a bigger audience, a legal location and more artists involved,the responsibility also becomes bigger.

Again this year the groupof artists has grown. Willem Besselink, Daan Botlek, Pim Palsgraaf, Ties Ten Bosch, Regina Kelaita, Onno Poiesz, Janne Eraker, Michiel Jansen, Jordy Walker and Sybille Neumeyer will work this summer in a beautiful old printing factory in Leipzig. The project is a very intense four weeks of working and living with each other. It demands a lot of organisation: sleeping places, safety measures in the building, sanitation facilities and of course materials to create new works. We are hoping you want to contribute to this project and of course for this you get something in return. Starting with a nice t-shirt or postcards up to a very special all-inclusive weekend with the artists. For every size of contribution a fitting reward! We highly appreciate your support!

For more information and impressions, check our website: http://www.ipihan.comor our facebookpage: www.facebook.com/ifparadiseishalfasnice/

So, to summarize, what do you contribute to? Ten artists stay for 4 weeks in Leipzig to fill an abandoned factory with great art that reacts to the context. What we need for that:

• A place to sleep for 10 artists and 2 interns
• Transportation for 10 artists from the Netherlands to Leipzig
• Sanitary facilities in the abandoned, worn-out factory building
• Water and electricity in the building
• Materials to realize the art works
• Flyers and posters to promote the project
• and last but not least, investments in safety measures for our grant opening weekend at the 11th till the 14th of August!

Some impressions of 4 years of 'If paradise is half as nice':