Open Call for Artists - GeoAIR project "undergo. the parallels", Tbilisi, Georgia

Georgia

Time: May-June 2012
Deadline for submissions March 2nd
 
For more information and details on how to apply please contact: [email protected]

Websites: http://www.geoair.blogspot.com/, http://archidrome.blogspot.com/,
http://www.geoairresidency.blogspot.com/

GeoAIR “undergo. the parallels”, Belinski Street

The notion of a “public space” together with “art in a public space” has lately worldwide acquired a new significance. The word “public” means democracy, and includes “clearness”, “openness”, “involvement”, “participation” and “responsibilities” - not only from the governmental side towards people, but between people in general as well. Discourse about art in a public space is not only definition of the word public, but it is also realization of the idea of democracy.

The exhibition project “undergo. the parallels” has to be held in about 10 underground passages of Tbilisi, images can be seen under: https://picasaweb.google.com/Infogeoair/UndergoTheParallels?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCL--5rnw8uGFdQ&feat=directlink.

The exhibition project "undergo. the parallels" will take place in the Tbilisi pedestrian underground passages. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, these underground passages went through different stages of change: first they were completely abandoned and became dangerous places of muggings and robbery. This lead to people avoiding entering them, in stead choosing to cross streets loaded with traffic, which led to a significant death toll. Later, these undergrounds became places where alternative, unofficial selling points arose. The more efficient sellers developed kiosks, shops, gambling places etc. Some of these underground passageways developed their own life, parallel to "normal" city life in the open air. These passages somehow turned into spaces of meetings and communication, with the youth gathering in gambling houses, musicians and students meeting to play and listen to the music, and the shop keepers are in close contact with the passengers and potential customers.

Today these undergrounds are still under development, in some of them new “organized” commercial infrastructures have been built, and some of them are on the verge of collapsing. There have also appeared some passages, which regardless of their necessity, have lost their practical function, and have become garbage dumps or public toilets.

There are two direct goals to be achieved with the project „undergo. the parallels“: practical and artistic. In terms of practical goals we hope to motivate the population of Tbilisi to more frequently use the underground passageways. The artists will work directly on site in the passageways, and some of the works will be displayed during the whole project period, but also temporal actions and performances will be held in different passageways. A project guide that will contain information about all activities will be spread out to the general population. On the one hand, activities carried out during the project will motivate pedestrians to enter the passageways, and on the other hand they will give an input to officials for the improvement of the state of the facilities.

On an artistic level, site-specific works (light installations, sound installations, photography, street art etc.) produced especially for the passageways will address socio-political and the concrete practical issues mentioned above. The Tbilisian and Georgian audiences are not used to art in public spaces and participatory art. With the project "undergo. the parallels" we aim to confront the general public with unconventional ways of art perception and how to engage with it. Some artworks such as street art and light installations, produced during the project, could remain on-site and act as long-term attractions in both practical and aesthetical ways for the passageways.

Requirements:
 
The organizers will not be held responsible for the damage or permanent loss of the artwork due to the fact that the project is situated in a public space. Next to the artistic value, priority will be given to projects that are not expensive and technically difficult to realize. The overall cost of the art piece to be exhibited will be taken into consideration during the selection procedure. The artwork presented for the exhibition should be relevant to the city of Tbilisi and relate thematically to the underground passages.

It is important to know that the project is on a low budget and GeoAIR do not carry any of the costs of travelling, accommodation and living. That said, GeoAIR is more than ready to assist you in the application process for funding from your respective countries. Because of the same financial issues, works may not be returned after the project is completed.

The applicants who are interested should send GeoAIR an e-mail containing the following information to (in a PDF format):
[email protected]
In the subject line, please fill in: Open Call “undergo. the parallels”:
- the concept of the work and its technical description
- approximate budget of the work
- artist’s CV
- portfolio of realized projects/works.