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Artist Bio

Angelina Kumar is an artist and social entrepreneur from India who is based in the Netherlands. In her practice, she is particularly interested in the commons, sustainable and ecological issues, and how these interrelate, intersect and practically take shape when applied to specific local contexts. By conducting local research, forging collaborations with like-minded partners and using art and cultural activities to create experimental sustainable platforms, she aims to establish more healthy and balanced ecosystems.

During her studies at the HKU, University of the Arts Utrecht, Kumar founded LDD – Lucrative Dumpster Dives: a foundation with a vision to enact circularity and sustainability both within and through arts and culture. Kumar regularly organizes art educational programs on sustainability, which include seminars and workshops for art, design and media students in Utrecht; gives motivational talks on social entrepreneurship for local companies; and curates artist-in-residency programs and cultural art projects in the Netherlands.

Recent and current projects include the Waste Bar 2022, The Creative Playground (2020–ongoing), a socially engaged sustainable artistic hub that Kumar conceptually co-designed and co-organised with Perron West at Westplein in Utrecht. An artist in residence at De Voorkamer in Utrecht and participant in the Re |Nature Festival in Den Bosch Netherlands 2021.

Artist Statement

My curiosity for sustainability, in its myriad of forms, stems from the friction and conflicting positions that arise between personal, social and institutional confinements and structures. In my work I use narratives and experiences to explore past, present and future manifestations of what sustainability can, could or should represent.

 

An acute attention to find balanced between playful and theoretical approaches is relevant for my practice. The desire is to give place for unexpected elements to arise and transpire by exploring transdisciplinary and interactive artistic forms. Thereby, curating a responsive environment for experimentation, dialogs and reflection.

 

A prevalent component in the method of individual and collaborative enactments of known and explored theories or concepts of circularity and sustainability. Is the act of bringing them to life in new scenarios formulates a platform to test, research and reflect on how they translate and evolve with the realities of everyday life. Therefore, an unfolding of an ideology, it’s pitfalls or potential possibilities can be realised and learned from through tactile testing grounds. One such testing ground is the foundation LDD which I started in 2017. It began with the desire to transform the creative industry into a circular and sustainable one, by walking the walk, it has evidently split over into a variety of social and dynamic settings. Depth and potential futures continue too unfold with each evaluation, reflection and intervention.

Pod cast

In this podcast episode of Lombok Talks, Bart Snijders talks to Angelina Kumar from about sustainability and art. What exactly is sustainability? And how can sustainability also be a lifestyle. She also talks about The Creative Playground, a new artist project space at the Westplein 1001 Utrecht.

In this podcast series ‘Utregse Manusjes Van Alles’ there is a conversation between project supervisor Femke and Angelina in regards to the LDD foundations and Angelina’s perspective on the local cultural sector. The aim of this podcast is to create a stage and platform for entrepreneurial talent. It should showcase the diversity and all the great initiatives within the city of Utrecht. STAD hopes that this podcast series can inspire others to do the same.

Regenerative & Distributive design

The Design Beyond The Decline

November 2022.

From edible packs to tables from seaweeds, meet designers who are pioneering a new economy. At Paukhuis De Zwijger Amsterdam Netherlands.

CV

EDUCATION
Feb. – April 2023: Project Management, Growth Tribe
Sept. 2019 – June 2021: MA in Fine Art, HKU Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht, Netherlands
Sept. 2016 – June 2019: BA in Fine Art, HKU Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht, Netherlands
Sept. 2017 – Jan 2017: Art and Economics, Business Modeling Course, HKU Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht, Netherlands
June 2012: Cambridge International A & AS Levels, Asia Pacific World School / Bangalore

 

SCHOLARSHIP
2019: Received a Management Scholarship for developing sustainability-related activities at HKU Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht, Netherlands

 

DIRECTORSHIP & INITIATIVES

Jan. 2023 – Present: Co-Directorship and initiator of Peer Support Program for the culture sector at Stichting Das Spectrum, Utrecht, NL.

Dec. 2022 – Present: Program Council Member of Wat Maakt West Program, Co-creating, planning and forecasting the 10-year program plan for a public art space with Gemene Ground, Utrecht, NL.

Jan. 2022 – Present: Conceptual Art Director, Waste Bar Project, Utrecht, NL.
Sept. 2020 – Present: Conceptual Designer, Curator, and Organizer, The Creative Playground. A socially engaged art space hosting art residency programs, in collaboration with Perron West, Utrecht, Netherlands. Link
2017 – Present: Founder, Lucrative Dumpster Dives (LDD) – A foundation transforming the art and cultural sector into a sustainable circular economy, Utrecht, Netherlands. Link
EXHIBITIONS
June 2023: SymbioFest, Fort Werk aan de Waalse Wetering, Netherlands.
April – May 2023: Ultradependent Public School (UPS) – BAK Utrecht, Netherlands.
Nov – Dec 2022: Want Utrecht Die Is Jarig en de Vlaggen Hangen Uit, Stadskantoor, Kunstliefde, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Sep. 2022: Group exhibition at Casco Art Institute: Working for the Commons, Utrecht, Netherlands.
July 2022: Little Engineers and Art Academy, Bibliotheek Neude, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Oct. 2021: Re | Nature Festival, ‘s-Hertogenbsoch, Netherlands.
June – July 2021: The Time That Keeps Growing Quietly in Our Absence, The Creative Playground, Moria, Casco Art Institution, Academy Gallery, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Sep. 2020: Belofte Jubilee, a collaboration with artist Joyce Overheul at Kunstliefde, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Oct. 2019: Het Klimaatmusem Pop-Up at Centraal Station, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Jan. 2018: Tickin’ Dinner, an independent exhibition co-organized with Lisette van Hoogenhuyze, Iriée Zamblé, Sarah Reinbold, and Robin Valster, Utrecht, The Netherlands.<
RESIDENCY & PROJECTS
Aug. 2023 – Present: Art Residency at Power House RAUM, Utrecht, Netherlands.
July 2023: Museum of Small Wonders at the Co-Transpose, an art residency in Dikea, Greece.
July – Oct. 2022: Want Utrecht Die Is Jarig en de Vlaggen Hangen Uit, Kunstliefde Utrecht, Netherlands.
April – Dec. 2022: Little Engineers and Art Academy, co-created with Mustafa ŞİMŞEKLER, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Sept – Oct. 2021: Residency at De VoorKamer, Utrecht, Netherlands.
CURATING
Dec. 2023: Centraal Laat – Centraal Museum, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Sep. – Oct. 2022: Culturele Zondag Utrecht, Curator for Op& and BAK, Netherlands.
April. 2019: Experimental, a 2-week exhibition. Conceptual curator and organizer at Tube, HKU Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Feb – March. 2010: Art Cuttney – Art Bengaluru Festival, Curator and participant, Bengaluru, India.
Nov. 2009: Sayyam Exhibition, Participant and co-organizer with Asaph Maurer and curator Sanjay Sethia with Gallery 5, New Delhi, India.
SELECTED TEACHING, WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS
Feb. 2021 – Present: Conducting sustainable design and art workshops, seminars, and labs for design, fine art, theater, special design Masters Art, education, and crossover creativity students at HKU Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Sept. 2020: Conducted “Sowing Sustainable Prospects: Explore the Landscape of Leidsche Rijn and Imagine the Future” workshop as a co-conceptual designer in collaboration with Artists Merel Zwarts from the Traveling Farm Museum and Postdoctoral Researcher Corelia Baibarac-Duignan from Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
April. 2020: Conducted a 1-week seminar on Eco Artistic Storytelling for design students as a conceptual designer and organizer at HKU Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Oct – Nov. 2019: Conducted a 2-week seminar on sustainability for EMT students as a co-designer and organizer in collaboration with Mina Stojanovic, at HKU Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht, Netherlands.
June – Aug. 2019: Co-designed and conducted a summer workshop for children with students from the art and education and fine art department HKU Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht, Netherlands, for the Centraal Museum, Utrecht Netherlands.
April. 2019: Conducted Experimental Drawing with reusable materials from the LDD store for fine art students as a conceptual designer and organizer at HKU Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Jan. 2019: Conducted a workshop on new ways to swap and exchange materials as a forward-thinking artist for fine art students at HKU Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Sept – Dec. 2018: Conducted “4 Elements” for first-year fine art students on the use of reusable materials and sustainability within the arts as a conceptual designer and organizer at HKU Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Sept. 2018: Conducted a World Clean-up Day workshop as a conceptual designer, Utrecht, Netherlands.
TALKS AND INTERVIEWS
Nov. 2023: Speaker at PRO-WEEK Kunstpunt Groningen.
March. 2023: Speaker at “Regenerate & Activate – Designing Cities for All,” Pakhuis De Zwijger, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
March. 2023: Presentation on “How to Start a Foundation” at Masters Fine Art HKU, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Nov. 2022: Speaker at “The Design Beyond the Decline – Designing Cities for All,” Pakhuis De Zwijger, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
April. 2022: Presenter of a public art project at the Honours Program Towards Regenerative Societies, Utrecht University, Netherlands.
April. 2021: Guest speaker on “Duurzaamheid en Kunst” at Lombok Talks Podcast, Utrecht, Netherlands.
April. 2021: Delivered a motivation presentation on the Circular Economy and Theory of Change at iChoosr, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Oct. 2019: Speaker at “Our House is on Fire,” Casco Art Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
June. – Dec. 2022: Creative Project Manager, Waterschap Hollandse Delta, Ridderkerk, South Holland, Netherlands.
April. – June. 2022: Producer, “Water Is What We Make,” Gemene Grond (Common Ground) Gemeente Utrecht, Netherlands. Link
Nov. 2021 – Present: Artistic Director, The Waste Bar, La La Foundation, Utrecht, Netherlands. Link
Sep. – Oct. 2021: Co-Producer, Re | Nature Festival ‘s – Hertogenbsoch, Netherlands. Link
Sep. – June. 2021: OC Board Member, Fine Art Department, HKU Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Utrecht, Netherlands
March. 2019: Artist Assistant at Cross-sections exhibition, Galerie Sanaa, Utrecht, Netherlands.
July. – Aug. 2017: Internship at Impakt Festival, Utrecht, Netherlands, involved in international business communication and coordination with artists and curators for Haunted Machines & Wicked Problems.
June. 2017: Assistant volunteer at Once We Were Artists symposium organized by BAK Basis voor Actuele Kunst, Utrecht, Netherlands.
FINANCIAL SPONSORSHIP
Oct. – Dec. 2022: Selected for the Distributed Design Mobility Scheme after being endorsed by the Distributed Design Platform member Parkhuis de Zwijger.
Many of my projects are a collective effort, and we’ve received financial support from different funds, including Mondriaan Fund, Stichting Doen, KF Hein Fonds, Initiatieve Fonds, Utrecht 900 Gemeente Utrecht, Stichting Art Utrecht, and Machinerie.
COMMISSION WORKS
2016 – 2010: Executed commercial and private indoor and outdoor installations, sculptures, and paintings in Goa, New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, India.
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
2017 – 2009: Numerous paintings in New Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, and Mumbai, India.