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Non Zero-Sum Art Games

Curated by Matthew Nevin & Ciara Scanlan

Co-curated with Katherine Nolan (Portugal) & Aoife Giles (Dublin)

The Non Zero-Sum Art Games was part of Culture Ireland’s ‘Culture Connects International Programme’, marking Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Produced by MART and curated by Matthew Nevin & Ciara Scanlan.

The Non Zero Sum Art Games opened concurrently on March 7th with a live video link between three venues in three separate countries.

A Non Zero Sum Game is in game theory a situation where one decision maker’s gain (or loss) does not necessarily result in the other decision makers’ loss (or gain) – a win-win game. They generally have both competitive and cooperative elements. Players engaged have some complementary interests and some interests that are completely opposed.

‘The Non Zero-Sum Art Games’ was a program of exhibitions and performances focusing on the power that Art and people have to transform the socio/political psyche of the public in three European cities; Dublin, Lisbon & Athens all whom have recently hit by financial crisis.

Two groups of five Irish Artists travelled to both Athens & Lisbon to work under rules, financial and time restrictions imposed by the curators.

Rules include:

• Artists are playing against each other to win a game with no results.
• Artists may not bring any materials or equipment with the exception of 1 Mobile Phone & one Laptop
• Artists will be given €100 to source materials / equipment in the host country.
• Artists must work with at least one local artist / resident.
• Artists will showcase their work on 7 March.
• All artworks will be destroyed when show is complete.

Dublin: Co-curated by Aoife Giles.

To coincide with MART’s Lisbon & Athens Exhibitions, MART hosted 2 Portuguese and 2 Greek artists in Unit 4 Gallery.

Exhibition Featuring: George Gyzis, Orlando Franco, São Trindade, Maria Tzanakou.

Athens

Five Irish artists land in Athens and had five days to create a piece of installation or sculpture artwork working under a set of Rules and Regulations, opened as an exhibition on 7 March.

Athens – metamatic:taf Exhibition Featured: Andrew Carson, Adam Gibney, Samantha McGahon, Matthew Nevin, Ciara Scanlan.

Also featuring collaborations with Greek Artists : Stefanos Athanatos, Panos Profitis, Kyrgiakos Tsiftsopoulos, George Gyzis, Maria Tzanakou, Christos Papasotiriou.

Lisbon – Co-curated with Katherine Nolan

The Performance event consisted of 5 performance artists arriving in Portugal on Sunday 3 March, working in Plataforma Revolver from 4-7 March devising 5 performances, they performed at an opening event on 7 March.

Lisbon – Plataforma Revólver. Event Featured: Vanessa Daws, Francis Fay, Eleanor Lawler, Katherine Nolan, Aine Phillips.

Also featured collaborations with Lisbon Artists; Rui Mourao, Nuno Lacerda, Pedro Azevedo, Marias Teixeria, and Sara Maia.