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Slow Art Collective

Slow Art Collective is an artistic collective that focuses on creative practices and ethics relating to environmental sustainability, material ethics, DIY culture and collaboration. As an interdisciplinary group of artists, Slow Art Collective is interested in process-driven practices where the focus is on the act of making.

‘Slow art’ is about slow exchanges of value rather than the fast, monetary exchange of value. It is about the slow absorption of culture through community links by creating something together and blurring the boundary between the artists and viewers. It is a sustainable art practice, not an extreme solution; a reasonable alternative to deal with real problems in contemporary art practice.

Collaboration is intrinsic to all facets of their work. Since 2009 Slow Art Collective has undertaken a range of projects that use the process of collecting to address the crossovers between artistic practice, creative sustainability and individual responsibility. Recently commissioned projects include Tokyo Biennale, TarraWarra Museum of Arts, McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Powerhouse Museum, Mpavillion (Botanic Garden, Monash University and Dockland), NGV, Gertrude Contemporary and Esplanade Singapore. Slow Art Collective received and awarded many grants, including Creative Victoria, the Australian Council and the City of Melbourne.

Slow Art Collective is currently helmed by Chaco Kato and Dylan Martorell, who invite collaborators to join them for individual projects.

Past works

Projects by this artist

STATION to STATION

Others
The works of the Slow Art Collective always interact with their surroundings, installing temporary structures made of bamboo, pipes, and other materials that coexist with existing streets and architectural spaces, with the aim of creating places where people in the community can gather. Using string as a free-form material, each participant weaves or ties it into bamboo, gradually creating a large-scale woven architectural structure. Additionally, by combining devices that harness the power of wind and sunlight, the works incorporate mechanisms that allow people to see and hear the sounds and breezes of the city. Emphasizing improvisation and using everyday materials, the collective creates otherworldly, non-日常 spaces. These works, which have been exhibited in diverse environments such as Tokyo, Melbourne, and Queensland, have created various meanings and values depending on the location. In Tokyo, a large art shrine-like space was created, while in the suburbs of Melbourne, it served as a place for Turkish immigrant families to pass on their culture of knotting. In a small rural town in Queensland, it became a place for residents who do not go out to relax and meet. Behind these diverse experiences lies a process in which participants become part of the artwork by freely tying a single string together, sharing space and time. In a long-term project at an elementary school, the children said in unison, “This was the first time we had such deep conversations with our classmates. We became really good friends.” There was no need for forced conversation; simply sharing the space and doing something together led to a gradual opening of their hearts. “Slow Art” is created and played with in connection with the local community, and it becomes a work of art. The results change daily depending on where it is practiced and with whom. In this project, we will collaborate with the Chiba region and develop a project that resonates with the philosophy of the Chiba International Art Festival 2025, creating a new space for creativity and joyful encounters within Chiba City.
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Exhibitions & events by This Artist