As I write these lines, I must admit a certain hesitation: exactly what should this post focus on? Perhaps it's enough to share my excitement, as today marks a significant milestone: it has been one year since the ArchivorumArk journey began.
This year has been a whirlwind of learning, discoveries, and encounters, which have given this project a dimension far more surprising than I had imagined. The hard work of selecting, archiving, and showcasing Nil Yalter's works has brought to light an artistic practice of rare depth, while raising critical questions about digital preservation, knowledge transmission, and the dematerialization of art. We have shared files, organized meetings with galleries and institutions, and explored the many facets of the artist's practice.
By diving into these archives, I became aware of the complexities involved in the conservation and documentation of contemporary works, which are often fragmented and marginalized in the history of art. And this is just the beginning.
This year is only the first milestone. The path ahead is still long (file exports into the database, book publication, and further project promotion), but these initial results show the importance of the archive as a tool for reclaiming and highlighting the history of artists.
To celebrate this anniversary, I propose a summary in numbers. In one year, Archivorum Ark has been:
36 blogs
54 reports
2 conferences (at Art Genève and the Fondation Antonio Ratti)
1 project presentation at Galleria Continua – Les Moulins
1 trip to Venice to discover Nil’s installation at the Venice Biennale
2 trips to Como
1 trip to Geneva
50 Zoom meetings
695 files shared by Nil and selected for the final archive
Over 41,511 MB of shared files from Nil and other galleries and individuals, equivalent to 40.5 GB of data
Works cataloged spanning 52 years
97 files shared by Ab-Anbar Gallery and selected for the final archive
152 files shared by The Gallerist and selected for the final archive
12 work sessions with Nil, between her studio and her apartment
Too many laughs with Nil Yalter
By the way, quick update: I’m seeing Nil this Friday – it’s been so long! She called me this evening, and I could feel her good mood radiating through the phone. I couldn’t stress this enough: her voice and presence are real balm for the soul.
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