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Press

Television

What is art and what is not ... increasingly life and art buff up against other ... independent artists taking over industrial disused parts of the city ... buildings that house art which is interesting ... the buildings themselves initially for the biennial and now places in which artists can now make and display their work all year round ... art being a force for urban regeneration. Tim Marlowe, Liverpool Biennial, Channel 5 (England), 2004.

Letters of Endorsement/References

... Transvoyeur, the group of artists, has been responsible for organising and presenting exhibitions to coincide with previous Liverpool Biennial festivals, and Gaynor Evelyn Sweeney in particular has been active and effective in this way. I understand Transvoyeur proposes to realise an exhibition in Liverpool during the period of the dates of the Festival ... Past experience suggests that this will be seen by the large numbers of interested public that visit the Festival ... Lewis Biggs (Chief Executive), Liverpool Biennial, 2006.

Publications (Hardcopy and Web)

The platform presented the artists of Transvoyeur and others the opportunity to present art of an alternative nature and expand on the philosophies of the Transvoyeur artists in their practice to examine and explore socio-cultural parameters and cognative in ethos of ‘Cabaret Voltaire’ (The Cabaret exhibited radically experimental artists, many of whom went on to change the face of their artistic disciplines; featured artists included Kandinsky, Klee, de Chirico and Ernst … Cabaret Voltaire. Under this name a group of young artists and writers has been formed whose aim is to create a centre for artistic entertainment … The idea of the cabaret will be that guest artists will come and give musical performances and readings at the daily meetings. The young artists of Zurich, whatever their orientation, are invited to come along with suggestions and contributions of all kinds. -Zurich, February 2, 1916). Transvoyeur Performance Artists at Cosmic Cabaret, Art in Liverpool Weblog, 2006 (Click to read more).

The performances were later described by an audience member as “some of the best live art I've seen for a long time” ... “It is a very liberating feeling to actually start to show the art of the Transvoyeur artists and guest artists”, said Gaynor Evelyn Sweeney, Artist and UK Projects Co-ordinator of Transvoyeur. “The launch of the performance art platform went immensely well and inspiring for the rest of the programme to come. There are three more nights over the coming four weeks for the performances of art from international artists”. Transvoyeur Performance Art Platform 2006, Art in Liverpool Weblog, 2006 (Click to read more).

The performances were not only diverse by nationality, but by cultural revelations, dissected, re-formed and commonality reconstituted. Each one stirred an intrinsic awareness on the subjects conceptualised and through the exchange of collaborative and shared experience, whether by artist or audience brings forward a mutual enlightenment in creativity and existence ... Sweeney who researches and manages the Transvoyeur Performance Art Platform stated, ‘A shared experience for all - artists, curators, audience and more. A fusion, hybridisation of new concepts and encounters. This is what arts and culture are about and the core element of the Independents. The platform to share, learn, innovate and realise new possibilities’. Transvoyeur Performance Art Platform 2006, Art in Liverpool Weblog, 2006 (Click to read more).

Gaynor Evelyn Sweeney, UK Projects Co-ordinator and Artist from Transvoyeur, who researches and manages the performances events stated: “The feedback from these performances was exceptional. People expressed how they immensely enjoyed each performance. Many commented on how different each performance has been, but equally powerful and entertaining”. Transvoyeur Performance Art Platform 2006, Art in Liverpool Weblog, 2006 (Click to read more).

It is interesting in this series of three performances by the artists there is a consideration of the female role in post-modern society and culture contrasted to the canons of history and inherited concepts. There is a recognisable universality to these notions and regardless of time separating the historical figure to the contemporary female artist the fundamentals remains the same of the passion and zeal of the female in her many guises, as lover, matriarch, leader, professional and so forth. Transvoyeur Performance Art Platform 2006, Art in Liverpool Weblog, 2006 (Click to read more).

Many people from the arts community, local and international, attended to view the art, including members of the public. Some visiting from London, Edinburgh, Paris and Barcelona. The comments expressed from different members from the public and international arts community, included ..."The best exhibition I have seen during this Biennial’ ... ‘The work all very strong and immensely diverse, but it works cohesively. Excellent show’ ... ‘I remember seeing the work of Transvoyeur artists in the Independents Liverpool Biennial 2004 and it was provocative and thought provoking work then. This new work is again strong” ... The collection of work touched on a range of subjects in contemporary life, each compelling representations of the themes explored by each artist. It is an exhibition one could visit a second and third time and will realise something new ... Transvoyeur Liverpool and New York Art Exhibition 2006, Art in Liverpool Weblog, 2006 (Click to read more).

On a much larger scale is Transvoyeur, a collaboration between artists from Merseyside and New York. Led by Gaynor Evelyn Sweeney and featuring Liverpool-born Jo Derbyshire, the work encompasses walks, talks, open-floor performances … and wrestling. The Enquirer (Northwest), 2006. (Click to read more).

Sweeney commented to what transpired: “Statements of ‘sensationalism’ are unfounded, because art and science have played an integral part in the history and evolution of civilisations. These types of exhibitions, which combine art and science act as a platform for insight and bring to the forefront awareness on certain subjects. It furthermore acts as a conduit on the subject to both scientists and animal rights activists. Through the freedom of expression by the artists it helps to address and evaluate such subjects. It is important for all in the 21st century, albeit ones role professional or otherwise, to address certain parameters, as by such we realise the validity of what we do” (Interview with Jean-Paul Debuffet, 11 August 2006, Art in Liverpool). ... T he subject is in nature controversial, as it explicates the unknown and touches on many ethical issues. The closure of the exhibition was compared in Global Report to ‘…opposition that Eduardo Kac’s iconic GFP bunny faced a few years ago when it was due to appear at the arts festival in France. Shortly before the exhibition date, the head of the institute where Alba had been engineered refused to let the rabbit leave, perhaps fearing the public protest and scrutiny of genetic engineering that such a show would ignite. Not to mention Steve Kurtz being accused of bio terrorism for his art activities’ (Global Report, 31 August 2006). ... This re-launch of at the Slaughterhouse 73 is in a venue in an upcoming cultural area of area. The gallery itself is part of a larger initiative by Alex Corina who plays an active role, both as artists and curator in arts and culture combined with the current regeneration of areas in the city of Liverpool. ...The exhibition was received positively at the opening night with celebrities from the cities cultural community as the renowned actor, Dean Sullivan and many other artists, curators from abroad and the members from the local community ... Those in attendance commented ‘provocative exhibition on a topical subject’ and ‘one of the best cultural platforms on genetics’. Gene Culture Exhibition, Art in Liverpool Weblog, 2006 (Click to read more).

UK Projects Co-ordinator, Gaynor Evelyn Sweeney ... to consolidate links with Paris and Barcelona Arts Collectives and Galleries. Transvoyeur has already established contacts with Italy and New York ... forge new modes of creative expression and artistic enlightenment of global culture. To realise exchange and explore the autonomy of diversity, which forms the unification of similarity by difference. ... The next association currently being established after her cultural research in Paris and Barcelona are to Australia. Art in Liverpool Weblog, 2006 (Click to read more).

We come together when event are getting organised. It allows for things to naturally evolve. Art and culture aren’t stagnant. You have to adapt quickly but if someone else has an idea to bring to the table, we all discuss the viability of it ... Liverpool is in state of flux at the moment. Obviously when culture is slapped on something it becomes more attractive for the property dealers and the artists have to become more self-enabling to make things happen. One of the biggest fears with Liverpool is that a lot of things are getting marginalised ..., 27 April 2006, Five Questions for ... Gaynor Evelyn Sweeney, Interview by Steve Pill, Metro News Paper, (Click to read).

... Transvoyeur ... its affiliations and collaborations have extended not only in the US, but interest and projects with European art collectives, 08 June 2006, Art in Liverpool Weblog (England).

Liverpool and New York are being brought together in a cultural initiative by Gaynor Evelyn Sweeney based in Liverpool and Lisa Eickholt and Michael Ricardo Andreev in New York. The histories of these two cities are strongly connected and since Liverpool has been awarded the European City of Culture 2008 …. The artists in this project are multi-cultural and their art touching on a wide range of themes, relative to the hybridized and cosmopolitan nature of a city environment and people, 12 May 2006, Nerve Magazine (England).

… creative relationships regional and global with the objective of research and development in the contemporary arts and culture, 29 March 2005, Art in Liverpool Weblog (England).

TransVoyeur is not merely an exchange of cultural practices and ideas, but an event recognising the people and community of a place, Liverpool and New York., 31 December 2004, Absolute Art (US).

Tim Marlow on the Biennial on FIVE at 19.05 Thursday. Late night events in the Independent District this weekend involving those zany Transvoyeur people, 29 September 2004, Liverpool Biennial Art Blog (England).

I'll really miss them and all the other stuff here, the International strand is good but I found the Independents & New Contemporaries more interesting/exciting, 29 October 2004, Liverpool Biennial Art Blog (England).

Performance Art Platform with Gaynor Evelyn Sweeney, ‘The Temple’, George Lund, The Funky Chicken, ‘May I have this Dance …’, Gary Sollars, ‘Doll Man’ and Tony Knox, ‘Moth Man, The Hero’. An array of performances from body politics and modification to the embodiment of the iconic in art born from the canvas, 18 September 2004, Artshole (London).

When Liverpool artist Gaynor Sweeney decided to take photographs of some of the more interesting characters in a New York night club she little knew where it would lead. One of her subjects posed happily before admitting that he was also an artist. Michael Ricardo Andreev was also one of the more influential with people like Susan Sarandon and Bill Clinton buying his work. The two kept in touch when Sweeney arrived back in Liverpool and together they came up with the idea of an artist exchange. She set up the organisation Transvoyeur to oversee the project and for the last few months, six artists in Liverpool and six in New York have been working on a variety of ideas, 03 September 2004, Daily Post (England).

A collective of twelve artists and two researchers, each from Liverpool and New York are part of a cultural exchange in the research and development of the international contemporary arts forming Transvoyeur, an Anglo American Cultural Initiative, 06 June 2004, Catalyst Media (England).

Audience Comments:

Transvoyeur and Liverpool Biennial 2006

'The feedback from these performances was exceptional. People expressed how they immensely enjoyed each performance. Many commented on how different each performance has been, but equally powerful and entertaining'.

'The best exhibition I have seen during this Biennial’

‘The work all very strong and immensely diverse, but it works cohesively. Excellent show’

‘I remember seeing the work of Transvoyeur artists in the Independents Liverpool Biennial 2004 and it was provocative and thought provoking work then. This new work is again strong'.

'some of the best live art I've seen for a long time'.

Transvoyeur and Liverpool Biennial 2004

'I went to the Transvoyeur in the Independents District and though it was one of the most audacious but inspiring exhibitions I have seen throughout this Biennial.'

'I enjoyed the moth man performance at Transvoyeur. Is this going to be shown? I also watched the live wrestling in jump ship rat. Is this performance going to be repeated?'

'It was strange, but I enjoyed it. Not the usual when I go to an exhibition.'

'Wonderful live performance. Definitely not frightened to explore different concepts.'

'I remember this one. Loved the crucifixion The Yellow Man was cool … went to the Novas Building towards the end of the Biennial and caught the workshops. It was fun!'

'One of the most inspirational exhibitions and performances of the Liverpool Biennial 2004 … '