/The Fourth Edition

Symbiosis IV —
The Mentoring Journey

Save The Date • 23rd Nov - 8th Dec 2024 • 9:00PM GMT+8

This year, our mentoring initiative has four distinguished mentors and 11 eager and hardworking mentees, altogether from 12 different countries. In this fourth cycle of Symbiosis, the works span from abstract art to traditional calligraphy applied in innovative new ways, and take varied forms such as installations, weaving, embroidery, etc, etc.

Prepare to join us for online weekend events where you can Meet the Artists and also hear about their art-making processes.

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The Art of Letters Mentoring Initiative

In 2021, The Art of Letters launched a mentoring initiative with four mentor-mentee groups. This developmental mentoring focuses on catalyzing the growth of the artists in particular aspects, and where "hierarchy" is not significant as collaborative learning. The mentoring goal is to facilitate growth, elevate skills, knowledge or understanding in specific areas. We now welcome four mentor-mentee groups this November 2024 for Symbiosis IV - The Mentoring Journey.

About Symbiosis IV | The Mentoring Journey

The mentors and mentees in The Art of Letters Mentoring Initiative have spent the greater part of 2024 experimenting, learning, exploring, and producing art. Their months of hard work culminate in Symbiosis IV | The Mentoring Journey, an online exhibition featuring their journeys from ideation, through the creative processes to the finished works of both mentors and mentees, from 23rd November to 8th December 2024.

The word ‘Symbiosis’ was chosen as it best describes the mutually beneficial nature of the mentor-mentee relationship wherein they inspire, nurture and amplify each other’s creative energy.

In conjunction with the exhibition, we will also host workshops, demos, write-togethers and meet-the-mentors and meet-the-artists sessions.

The sharing of the mentoring and learning journeys will enrich our community and hopefully inspire other collaborative learning relationships.

Participating Artists

Led by Andrea Wunderlich, with mentees Annabel Delgado, Irène Le Corre and Maki Shimano - Using The Book of Hours as their inspiration, Andrea's group created modern and cross-cultural interpretations of it. The medieval Book of Hours were beautifully illuminated books containing the routine of daily prayers divided into hours of the day. Touching on topics from war, death, plague, travel and bad weather, these prayers show us the intimate thoughts of people who lived centuries ago.

Andrea Wunderlich
*Mentor |* *Goldkronach, Germany*
*Email her*

Annabel Delgado
*Artist | Miami, USA*
*@annabelcalligraphy*

Irène Le Corre
*Artist | Geneva, Switzerland*
*@lesencresfolles*

Maki Shimano
*Artist |* Japan
*@ryukashimano* | *@mscalligraphy*

Led by Eleanor Winters with mentees Elif Laxage Studio, Nur Syuhada Jaafar and Toks Ojo - With traditional calligraphy as the foundation, Eleanor's group explored the myriad ways they can blend calligrpahy with colours, paints and textures into 2D and 3D forms.

Eleanor Winters
*Mentor | New York / Paris, France*
*@eleanor_winters_vdp1*

Elif Laxage Studio
*Artist | Kocaeli, Turkey*
*@laxagestudio*

Nur Syuhada Jaafar
*Artist | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia*
@byhandarts_by_sj_atelier

Toks Ojo
*Artist | Brisbane, Australia*
@toksojodesigns

Led by Gabriela Soba with mentees Alicia Márquez, Ines Buteler, and Roxana Hernández - Bending and moulding calligraphy into a variety of forms, mediums and structure, Gabriela's group blended highly technical explorations with personal and fluid expressions. Interestingly, they are all connected by the Spanish language, though they live in different parts of the world.

*Gabriela Soba*
*Mentor |* Barcelona, Spain
@gabriela.soba

Alicia Márquez
*Artist | Chicago, USA*
*@alicia__marquez* | *Website*

Ines Buteler
*Artist | Buenos Aires, Argentina*
@inesbuteler_arte

Roxana Hernández
*Artist | Poland*
*@roxanaink*

Led by Julie Wildman, with mentees Ines Sotomayor and Dashaen - (Rajan Kumar Singh) - Deeply personal and yet highly technical in execution, Julie's group pushed themselves to explore art-making with calligraphy, far beyond their comfort zones, searching for their voices and sharing their stories and history.