Exhibit Studio - Call for the exhibition My reality is not your reality

Open Call and Submission deadline: 17.7.2023, 11.00 h

The Academy’s Exhibit Studio is the exhibition space for students and run by students. It is located in the Academy building at Schillerplatz on the 1st floor. This academical year it is coordinated and curated by Olga Shapovalova and Christian Azzouni. Both are studying at the Academy and work at the Contemporary Exhibitions Office. In 2023 they plan to organise four shows. 

For the third group exhibition that will be opened on the 7th of September students are invited to submit any form of work addressing the topic of my reality is not your reality.

Submission topic

The third exhibition will be a continuation of the previous two. Spinning the story about the life of young artists, we invite artists to submit their finished work that explores the intersection of reality and mental health. We are interested in art that delves into the inner emotional states, coping mechanisms, and challenges faced by artists in their journey to navigate the world around them.

After significant projects and moments of indulgence, devastation often comes – not only physical, but also emotional (burnout&hangover). It is overlapped with the routine of ordinary life, various psychological traumas, and the art market’s constant pressure on the ongoing production of art. We encourage artists to share their unique perspectives, shedding light on the diverse ways they deal with the realities they encounter.

How do you, as an artist, navigate reality? Do you find solace in obsessive work or intentional pauses? Does isolation or immersion in vibrant social scenes help shape your artistic practice? How does your art become a vehicle for escapism, allowing you to explore other dimensions of reality? How can art re-sort the concept of reality?

What can be submitted?

We ask that only finished projects and/or works be submitted for this purpose. The medium is free to choose, and we are open to performance and live acts at the opening. 

Who can participate?

Students from all departments of the Academy can apply for the open call.

Aims

The Exhibit Studio sees itself as an open space that is inclusive of all practices and creates space for critical conversations and experimentation. In this exhibition we want to create a safe-space for obsessions and invite viewers and artists to experience and reflect it.

Collective responsibilities

The Exhibit Studio is a place of shared responsibility. This means that the artists/students are largely responsible for the installation & deinstallation of their work. The coordinators (Olga Shapovalova & Christian Azzouni) run the planning of the exhibition and support the artists in their requests. They coordinate the production of invitation cards, the graphic material, support the promotion of the event and are available for questions regarding the organisations and installation, if needed.

Budget

There is a budget for each exhibition incl. artists fee. 

Submission

Participation is open to all students currently enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Submissions should be uploaded as a one (1) PDF file (max. 10 MB, max 20 pages A4 format) via the platform https://calls.akbild.ac.at/ and include the following:

• written proposal (approx. 1 A4 page)
• image of the art work, sketches for performances
• brief curriculum vitae (max. 1 A4 page).
• portfolio 

collected in one PDF!

The name of the file needs to include the student’s name. E.g. Surname_Reality.

Submission deadline: 17.7.2023, 11 h

Further info

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask via email: exhibitstudio@akbild.ac.at