María Paola Malavasi on Re–Directing: East 2020
- It is a curious thing to be behind the scenes, helping give shape to a time and place that does not exist beyond our own minds and conversations. I see my work as mediator, educator, cultural manager and organiser as a creative practice coming from my personal desire to bring people together by using art as a platform that allows us to meet. Throughout this shaping process I always try to offer
- support
- hope
- generosity
- imagination
- structure
- knowledge
- ideas
- listening
- experience
- friendship, and
- understanding
- But above all, time.
- Time, I believe, is one of the most important things a person can offer to let others know they care about them, about their projects, ideas and beliefs. Throughout that time together, organizing, listening and participating, I came to realise that connection can happen beyond a physical presence, because offering someone time, and the attention that comes with it, is in itself an act of being open to a connection. We are able to now know each other a little better thanks to the online realm, because we shared time and allowed ourselves to be vulnerable and experiment with this new way of being together. That sense of closeness, in spite of our physical distance, created bonds that can now extend beyond this shared seminar. In the end, the virtual meeting place reminded us that what creates a space – online or offline – is what we as people share with others, and how others allow themselves to be with you.
Participants of the seminar are answering two questions: what was their contribution to the seminar and how has taking part in the seminar influenced their perception of the online realm.
Photo: Ania Bystrowska
