a visual journal of maldives

Creative Explosion After Repression – Visual 1 by Marie Omar, 2009

 Atholhu – Platform for Artists, has received an offer of a grant from Artists’ Network Asia (www.artsnetworkasia.org) to undertake ‘Creative Explosion After Repression’, a project that comprises interviews of Maldivian artists, online documentation, presentations, exhibition and publication of catalogue.  The project will look at and document the social and cultural impact of creative expression being merely limited to craft and aesthetics catering to the commercial tourist market. Further, the Letter of Offer from ANA states that it is hoped the grant will enable Atholhu as a new creative venue to initiate and facilitate the change and development of artistic practice of Maldivian artists and hope that this would benefit the long-term development of Maldivian community as a whole.

The basic methodology of the project is to conduct several interviews and compile case studies of creative practitioners which will include visual artists, performers and musicians. And if the project is completed as initially envisaged it will include a total of 40 interviews of artists from all the main regions of the Maldives. However, the grant ANA has offered Atholhu will only cover half the cost of implementing the project and Atholhu is now in the process of seeking additional funds from local and international donors and sponsors.

The first general meeting of Atholhu will be held on the 25^th of March 2009 in which an Executive Committee will be elected. All visual artists interested in becoming Atholhu memebrs are advised to fill in the membership form, available to download at www.atholhu.org, and send it in by 24^th March 2009 latest. 

Atholhu was established in 2008 by a group of Maldivian artists to facilitate visual art production, artists’ exchange and networking.