[title title=”Call for submissions: VPN to IRL curated by Tak Pham”]
Xpace Cultural Centre is seeking video and/or new media work from student artists and/or designers for the exhibition VPN to IRL curated by Tak Pham, which will run from March 31 – April 29, 2017, in partnership with Images Festival.
The exhibition aims to explore the international political and personal implications of government censorship by way of internet firewalls and content filters. Considering firewalls and Virtual Private Networks (otherwise known as VPNs – a virtual system allowing users to bypass international firewalls and content filters) as types of ‘virtual architecture,’ the exhibition will interrogate national policies that both interfere with and regulate the behaviours of citizens online. Artists may choose to consider the following questions: how do virtual firewalls function in much the same way as physical border checkpoints? How do technologies such as VPNs ‘democratize’ access to information and content?
Artists are invited to directly engage with Xpace’s architecture to transform the spatial experience of viewers, and/or consider the use of Internet technologies to explore social, racial, political and/or economic issues.
Works must be ready for exhibition by March 25, 2017. Selected artists will be notified in late November. All selected participants will be paid a project fee for the exhibition.
To apply, you must provide:
1. Artist Statement (250-500 words): The Artist Statement should give a description of your overall practice as it relates to the project you are proposing.
2. Project Description (250-500 words): The project description should give a clear and concrete description of the work you are proposing for installation.
3. Curriculum Vitae (Max 3 pages): Your CV should include education and exhibition history, as well as any relevant experience, reviews, etc.
4. Visual Support Material with accompanying Support Material List (5-10 images and/or minutes of video): Images must be in JPG format. You may provide links to video work/documentation.
DEADLINE: November 1, 2016, 11:59pm
If you have any questions about the proposal process please contact either Geneviève Wallen at genevieve@xpace.info or Cameron Lee at cameron@xpace.info.
DUE TO HIGH INTEREST, XPACE WILL ONLY ACCEPT SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED THROUGH OUR FORMAL SUBMISSION PROCESS AS OUTLINED ABOVE. THE PROGRAMMING COORDINATORS ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS BUT CANNOT ACCEPT INFORMAL SUBMISSIONS.
Applicants will be notified in November 2016 of their proposal’s status. Xpace thanks all applicants for their interest.