Sammy Baloji

"For me, the International Summer Academy is a very special place. The intensive, creative and inspiring atmosphere in all our activities never ceases to fascinate me. Artists come to us – as teachers and students – from all over the world, taking advantage of this summer time-slot to concentrate exclusively on production, reflection and presentation, far removed from their everyday life. Disillusionment and re-enchantment, downfall and upswing – all this is possible; there emerge not only exceptional works of art, but also friendships and networks that often last a lifetime. The long-term project Global/Planetary Academy is at present my main objective. Its aim is to further establish the Summer Academy as a hotspot for global art, tackling relevant questions and strengthening worldwide connections. The project focuses on questions of how art can be learned and taught in the globalised world."