DIY: 2007 – EISherbiniBir

Over three days five artists will creatively explore humour as a strategy to deal critically with social and political issues. Participants will ask ‘can humour open up engagement with art?’ by creating their own home made joke.

Led by Yara El-Sherbini.

Friday 22, Saturday 23, and Sunday 24 June 2007.
West Midlands, Birmingham.
Deadline: FULLY BOOKED.

The Project

This three day project will explore humour as a method of engagement for artists whose practice is socially engaged. It will specifically focus on jokes as a point of social critique and exchange; how comedians use them, and how we can create one.

A joke writing tutor will host a two hour session for the group, and participants will explore how to exchange these jokes, and consider site, context and audience in relation to using the joke within an artistic practice.

Application Procedure

Participating artists will be at the early stages of their career, or students, making or interested in making socially engaged work, with an interest in humour. Selections will be based on a statement, outlining your interest in the project (max 200 words).   Places are limited to five participants. Email applications to [email protected] by 6pm on Monday 21 May with ‘DIY 4 Birmingham’ in the subject line.

About the Artists

Yara El-Sherbini is London based. Her concerns are in how the artist can facilitate engagement with the viewer, so over the last year Yara has been using the popular and entertaining format of the pub quiz to playfully ask questions about art and life. She is hosting a series of pub quizzes, supported currently by Breathing Space, Arnolfini, and recently by a BBC’s Power of Artcommission. Her work has been shown nationally and internationally most recently includingSystem Error-Palazzo delle Papesse, Siena, Who are you? Where are you really from? – Whitworth Art Gallery; Late at Tate – Tate Britain; EAST International and Performance Studies International (PSi) 12. Her joke book Sheikh ‘n’ Vac, was commissioned by Book Works, and published in July 2005.

Any Questions
If you have any questions email Yara at [email protected] with ‘DIY 4 Birmingham’ in the subject line. Please note that Yara is unable to respond to emails before 5 May.