Anne-Cécile Surga

1987, Foix (France)

I am submitting my application to the residency at the Centro Internazionale di Scultura because I would like to develop a new series of artworks and I need a specific setting to begin this new project. I want to state that I am interested in three months stay residency from May to July 2023.This new series of work will be made both of marble carving and welding. I am not equipped to pursue this new research in my atelier in France, so I need the right space to develop this idea. Secondly, I develop each series based on a specific marble. My Reactivation series is based on Carrara marble, while the Our Skins series is made only out of pink Portuguese marble. The Black Holes series is made from Izaourt black marbles that I can find in the Pyreneans Mountains. For the new series I want to develop, I need a clear whitish marble. I believe the Peccia marble is very appropriate for this project. Hence, I am not interested in having a one-time only residency in Peccia, but I am looking forward to creating a long-term relationship with the quarry and the area. Also, the experience of the pandemic was quite beneficial for my artistic research. The fact of been “secluded” for months in my studio and of running out of Carrara marble, allowed me to expand in new artistic directions. I was very happy I had this ability to move out of my comfort zone during that “time away from normal time”. I am looking for a residency in a natural environment, where I could find again this breath of artistic freedom, away from the constraints of artistic production for galleries that I am experiencing right now. Finally, I am very much interested in this residency because it is specific for sculpture. In the past I did one residency in Carrara that was specialized in marble sculpture, and I learnt so much there. An important aspect as well is the opportunity to meet and discuss with other sculptors. From my experience, we all work alone in our studio and we do not really have opportunities to meet in real life. I think it is important to forge camaraderie and to foment discussions to shape the concepts of the sculptures of the future.

Residency Report

During my stay of 3 months at the Centro, I worked on my initial project of trying to shape thoughts interactions in my brains during my creative process. I made three sculptures in this specific research, made in steel and marble. It was an enormous opportunity to be able to make these works: first because the birthofa new series is always a long and difficult process for me. Having the residency to work on them over time allowed me to have the time to reflect a lot on the works while making them. The more I made, the easier it gotof course. Secondly, I am very thankfulfor I had access to the welding studio. Heinz Brehm was extremelyhelpfulin guiding me to get back to welding after so many years. These skills will stay with me I hope, and I am already developingnew ideas for monumental works including marble and steel. I would not be able to think this way and to inventnew way of approaching monumental work without this experience.

In parallel to my initial project, I got interested in recuperating marble powderfrom the cutting of big blocks. Thiswas sustainable researchto find ways of recuperating and reusing waste from the stone industry. As I was developingan interest in stereotomy at the same time, I try to make two archesmade from marblepowder found in the quarry and white concrete. This was a very interesting project, something I never imagined I would have done, but because I was in the residency I had the time, the materials, and also the logistical support to do it. The arches were not 100% functional,but this is to me only the beginning of another lifelong research including stereotomy and the reuse of marble wastes. I still have not find the perfect answer or combination, but I had firsthandexperience withthese concepts, and I can bring this knowledge into future developments.

Finally,I also made a new series of vases in marble. This was apersonalproject that was not planned neither initially. I was going through personal turmoilat that period and I guess I had to find a way to bringthis outside of myself. I am interested in continuing this series as well, but the Peccia marble is not suitable for this project, so I will have to find another marble first.

Overall,I am extremelyhappy I had the opportunity to participate in the 2023 residency. I trulybelieve the Centro is giving all the best support needed for creation, and especially for sculpture, which is not common. The facilities are incredible, all the materials areof the highest quality, it has been a dream to have access to all of this. The same goes for the accommodation,which was absolutely perfect. I came to work on one specificprojectand ended up realizing three. I know I worked a lotand that it mighthave impairedgetting closer tothe other residents, but I came to work. Also, I had affinities with some and less with others, so I stayed closed to the persons I found interesting only. 

During my stay, many people asked me if three months wastoo short of a period or not. I believe three months is a perfect length, and I know I wouldnothavebeenable to commit more than that. I have been struggling to keep up with all the work I didnot do (for galleries and exhibitions) during the residency since august, and it has been a lot of work in the last months.I cannot imagine leaving for a six months residency as the consequences would be too hard on the other commitments for my career. So yes, three months is short, but it is a good period to develop a new (or three) research project. The researchand development I made in Peccia were and still are very important. It allowed me to takea step asidemy “normal”production and to thinkdifferently and explore things. This is very precious, and I will always cherish my time in these mountains.