About me
| Short Bio | Laura Besançon (b:1993, Malta) is a Maltese artist. She graduated with an MA from the Royal College of Art, London in 2019 – where she developed a multifaceted practice. Central to Laura’s practice are notions of play, connectivity and place explored through a playful approach which often utilises various communication tools as part of the process. She is also interested in turning things around through appropriation, reconfiguration, shifting perspectives and playful action. Her work also explores the concept of the in-between and seeming dualities. She was a finalist for the 2019 MTV RE:DEFINE Award by the Goss-Michael Foundation and recently, the 2020 Aesthetica Art Prize and the 2021 Next Thing Moving Image Award with her participatory project “Alone, Together” (2018- ongoing). Laura was recently currently artist-in-residence at the Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris (Institut Francais Residency Program x Cite des arts) until January 2023. She was a resident artist at ZK/U Center of Art and Urbanistics in Berlin between March and May 2022. She recently was part of the School Playscape project, as Lead Artist. An artistic and co-design project resulting in a community garden and playscape. |
| Other Roles | Artist, Conceptual Artist, Fine Artist, Project Oriented Artist |
| Skills | Academic Research Action Oriented Communications Conceptual Installation Mixed Media Sustainable Materials |
Education
| Education History | MA Photography, Royal College of Art, London, UK (2017-2019) Bachelor (Honours) Communications & Psychology, University of Malta (2011-2015) |
Experience
| Exhibitions | Izmir Mediterranean Biennial, Kültürpark Atlas Pavilion, Izmir, Turkey (23rd January – 11th March 2024) Malta Biennale 2024, Valletta, Malta (11th March – 31st May 2024) IAM Contemporary presents L-GĦARAJJEX curated by Aidan Celeste: Artist Talk (11th October, 2023) IAM Contemporary presents L-GĦARAJJEX curated by Aidan Celeste (22nd September – November, 2023) Izmir Mediterranean Biennial Artist-In-Residence Programme, Izmir, Turkey (11th – 20th September 2023) R Gallery: Far Reach, MaHalla, Berlin (13th – 17th September, 2023)
“In/visible” exhibition at Cité internationale des arts, Paris. Curated by Philipp Lange. Participating artists: Laura Besançon, Luki von der Gracht, Judith Kakon, Manuel Mathieu, Letizia Romanini (Opening 26th October 2022 – February 2023)
Publication: Alone, Together (2018-) Documentation of a Participatory Work. This Publications provides context, documentation and insight into the participatory project “Along, Together” developed by Laura Besançon and activated by residents of different buildings in different cities from 2018 onwards. It includes different anecdotes and forms of communication before, during and after the individual happenings. Future Nostalgia FM, Futurology Kiosk 8, Kiosk 6, Sophienstiftplatz, Weimar, Germany & online (16th June – 5th July) view Artist Residency at ZK/U Berlin, Berlin. Supported by Arts Council Malta (1st March – 31st May 2022) view ZK/U OPENHAUS, Berlin, Germany (19th May, 2022) view Alone, Together – Typ Berlin (4th May – 11th May 2022) participatory live works with residents living in various Berlin tower blocks as part of the ongoing project “Alone, Together” (2018-) ZK/U OPENHAUS, Berlin, Germany (24th March, 2022) view Night of Ideas: Creating Together / La Nuit des Idées: (Re)construire ensemble, Spazju Kreattiv, Malta (Discussion on 12th March, Exhibition: Friday 11th March – Sunday 10th April 2022) view Collaborative Artist Residency with YUNIS as part of the Night of Ideas, Spazju Kreattiv, Malta (January 2022). This project is supported by the French Embassy in Malta and the French Alliance in Malta. The Next Thing Moving Image Award 2021 (Finalist), Moving Image Gallery, Bury Art Museum and Sculpture Center, Bury, UK (30th November – January 22nd 2022) Infrastructures of Care (2021) A photographic and sculptural installation by Laura Besançon for FUSE, Valletta Design Cluster, Malta (30th April – July 2021) Playful Futures, Valletta Contemporary, Malta (30th April – 6th June 2021) Aesthetica Art Prize 2020 Exhibition (Finalist), York Art Gallery, York, UK (2020-2021)
|
| Achievements | The Next Thing Moving Image Award 2021 (Finalist), Moving Image Gallery, Bury Art Museum and Sculpture Center, Bury, UK (30th November – January 22nd 2022) Aesthetica Art Prize 2020 Exhibition (Finalist), York Art Gallery, York, UK (2020-2021) 2019 MTV RE:DEFINE Award Presented by the Goss-Michael Foundation: 2019 Award Finalists announced (The Goss-Michael Foundation), Dallas, Texas view
|
| Work | 2017-Present Multidisciplinary Artist http://www.laurabesancon.com 2020-Present (contract based) Lead artist for The School Playscapes Project, Gzira Primary School 2022 (July – August) Festival Manager – 18th Kinemastik International Short Film Festival 2018-2019 Student Representative for 2nd Year MA Photography, Royal College of Art, London
|
| Residencies | Izmir Biennial Residency Program at K2 Urla Breathing Zone, Izmir, Turkey (September 2023) Artist Residency at Cité internationale des arts, Paris. Winner of the Institut Français residency program at the Cité internationale des arts with the support of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture) (October 2022 – January 2023) view Artist Residency at ZK/U Berlin, Berlin. Supported by Arts Council Malta (1st March – 31st May 2022) view Collaborative Artist Residency with YUNIS as part of the Night of Ideas, Spazju Kreattiv, Malta (January 2022). This project is supported by the French Embassy in Malta and the French Alliance in Malta. |