Tunisian Collaborative Painting
Encyclopedia
Tunisian Collaborative Painting is an art
form developed in Tunisia
in the mid-1980s. It is unique in its method of allowing a group of painters
to work simultaneously on a canvas without discussion or planning beforehand. The result is a large painting created by a group of individuals that nevertheless looks like it was executed by a single artist.
Hechmi Ghachem, an artist in Tunis
, originated the art form with a small group of painters who met at the Bouabana cafe in Tunis. They developed a simple set of rules to govern the process and created a number of paintings in this way. They eventually became known as "BIPs," or "Brigades d'Interventions Plastiques."
The art form was introduced to the United States
at a painting event facilitated by artist and Fulbright scholar
David Black, who learned the form while on fellowship in Tunis. The event took place at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts on February 20, 2010.
Mr. Black conducted a week of Tunisian Collaborative Painting Workshops at the Art Students League of New York
from November 8–12, 2010. 125 artists took part. They came from the United States, Tunisia, Algeria
, Australia
, Austria
, Brazil
, Canada
, China
, France
, Greece
, India
, Israel
, Italy
, Japan
, Pakistan
, Spain
, Switzerland
and Taiwan
. 26 paintings were created and in keeping with Tunisian tradition the completed art works were donated to be auctioned off for the benefit of the school.
Images from Tunisian Collaborative Painting sessions may be found on the Facebook
page "Tunisian Collaborative Painting in America."
Generally, the number of artists must be at least three and can be up to a dozen. Once begun, no additional painters may join the painting. Talking is discouraged. The canvas
is best at a large size, typically 5'x6', to allow enough room for a number of artists to work simultaneously. There is no time limit for the painting to be completed.
Any artist may come to the canvas and paint at any time, so that several or all artists may be working simultaneously. Artists may also elect to step back and observe at intervals without painting. Any artist can paint over another artist's work at any time.
One person is designated as the one to begin the painting. This person is also responsible for deciding when the painting is completed.
Another person is chosen as arbiter
to settle any disagreements about the direction of the painting.
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
form developed in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
in the mid-1980s. It is unique in its method of allowing a group of painters
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
to work simultaneously on a canvas without discussion or planning beforehand. The result is a large painting created by a group of individuals that nevertheless looks like it was executed by a single artist.
Hechmi Ghachem, an artist in Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
, originated the art form with a small group of painters who met at the Bouabana cafe in Tunis. They developed a simple set of rules to govern the process and created a number of paintings in this way. They eventually became known as "BIPs," or "Brigades d'Interventions Plastiques."
The art form was introduced to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at a painting event facilitated by artist and Fulbright scholar
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
David Black, who learned the form while on fellowship in Tunis. The event took place at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts on February 20, 2010.
Mr. Black conducted a week of Tunisian Collaborative Painting Workshops at the Art Students League of New York
Art Students League of New York
The Art Students League of New York is an art school located on West 57th Street in New York City. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists, and has maintained for over 130 years a tradition of offering reasonably priced classes on a...
from November 8–12, 2010. 125 artists took part. They came from the United States, Tunisia, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. 26 paintings were created and in keeping with Tunisian tradition the completed art works were donated to be auctioned off for the benefit of the school.
Images from Tunisian Collaborative Painting sessions may be found on the Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page "Tunisian Collaborative Painting in America."
Form
The form has these characteristics:Generally, the number of artists must be at least three and can be up to a dozen. Once begun, no additional painters may join the painting. Talking is discouraged. The canvas
Canvas
Canvas is an extremely heavy-duty plain-woven fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, and other items for which sturdiness is required. It is also popularly used by artists as a painting surface, typically stretched across a wooden frame...
is best at a large size, typically 5'x6', to allow enough room for a number of artists to work simultaneously. There is no time limit for the painting to be completed.
Any artist may come to the canvas and paint at any time, so that several or all artists may be working simultaneously. Artists may also elect to step back and observe at intervals without painting. Any artist can paint over another artist's work at any time.
One person is designated as the one to begin the painting. This person is also responsible for deciding when the painting is completed.
Another person is chosen as arbiter
Arbiter
Arbiter may refer to:*Arbiter , in computing and electronics a circuitry component*Arbiter , a character in the Halo video game series*ArbiterSports, a sports officiating software company owned by the NCAA...
to settle any disagreements about the direction of the painting.