1a space Announces Open Call for the Second Edition of Mid-Career Artist Exhibition & Publication Series

1a space is pleased to announce an open call for trio group composed of an artist, a curator and a researcher to participate in the second edition of Mid-Career Artist Exhibition & Publication Series. In response to the shortage of mid-career retrospectives in Hong Kong and the need of documenting and researching the local art ecology, we aim to initiate a long-term commitment to a series of comprehensive solo exhibitions and high-quality publications dedicated to mid-career artists. Through demonstrating an artist’s creative process in a thorough and inclusive manner to the general public, the project serves to acknowledge and encourage prolonged artistic practices. In addition, by facilitating dynamic collaborations between leading Hong Kong artists, curators, and researchers, we hope to invite reflections upon different roles and possibilities in exhibition-making.

We seek to support a trio consisted of an artist, a curator, and a researcher, to realise a solo exhibition at the gallery of 1a space in 2025, coupled with an artist monograph publication. Pairing a deserving curatorial talent with a mid-career artist, the survey exhibition is expected to make visible the progression of an artist’s journey, demonstrating how an artist reflects, reconfigures and rejects idea. The project also sees curatorial research as a core component in tandem with exhibition planning. We intend to develop cohesive and contextualised retrospectives that fill in the gap between larger public institutions and commercial galleries. In accompany with the exhibition, public programmes such as artist talk, book launch and curator tour will be organised, inviting the local community to interact with the artist, curator and researcher, and to expand related discussions.

To further anchor the exhibition in the wider local art discourse, the selected researcher will be responsible to conduct research and produce essay(s) focused on the artist. The publication shall include, but is not limited to, introductory essay(s), biographical information on the artist, analyses of works of art, artwork illustrations and installation images of the exhibition. While the exhibition and related programmes are temporal events, the academic monograph produced will continue to contribute to the research of local art as a helpful and permanent resource.

Successful Applicants will Receive:

• A solo exhibition in 1a gallery and associated public programmes

• Publication opportunity

• Administration and marketing support for the above-mentioned

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be living and working in Hong Kong, or Hong Kong artists/curators/researchers living and working abroad. Please note that the project will not be able to cover travelling and accommodation costs for successful applicants coming from abroad.

• We acknowledge that the careers of artist, curator and researcher progress in various ways. Thus, we broadly define the eligibility of each role through listing different milestones. Interested parties should show in the application that they have reached most of the milestones below or should demonstrate their accomplishment of other experiences that they see equivalent.

• The open call is aimed at mid-career artist with at least 10 years of experience working as an artist; participation in solo and group exhibitions locally and internationally; participation in local or international residencies; and an accumulated sizable quantity of works that showcases a linear development of the artist’s style and creative language.

• We are looking for curator who has actively engaged in curatorial practices locally or internationally in the recent 10 years.

• Applying researcher should have previous professional publishing experiences, or should possess relevant academic qualifications.

Application Guidelines:

Interested trio consisted of an artist, a curator and a researcher should submit ONE shared application pack. The pack should be in PDF format, and should include the following items in no more than 20 pages:

1. CV of the artist – Please note that the list of exhibitions should include maximum 10 selected items from 2014 onwards.

2. Artist’s portfolio – With images and captions of selected artworks and exhibitions

3. CV of the curator

4. CV of the researcher

5. A shared application statement – The statement should explain how your participation in the project can benefit your current states of career, and how your group visualise the upcoming collaboration. Some related questions include why this particular trio was formed, and how the trio can offer a comprehensive review on the artist’s career and deepen the understanding of the Hong Kong art scene.

6. Curator’s portfolio – With at least 2 exhibitions

7. Researcher’s writing sample – With at least 2 writing samples

• Considering the limited number of pages, applicants are encouraged to include website links in replacement of long texts.

• Each applicant can be involved in one application only.

• One representative of the trio shall submit the application pack via email to info@oneaspace.org.hk (Subject: Application for Mid-Career Artist Exhibition & Publication Series) on or before 18 August 2024, 23:59pm. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Selection Process:

Submissions will be evaluated by a committee that includes representatives of 1a space and the member(s) of first edition of Mid-Career Artist Exhibition & Publication Series. Applications will be evaluated based on the applicants’ artistic and academic merit, and the exhibition’s benefit to the applicants’ development. Results of the open call will be announced in September 2024.

Terms and Conditions:

• Cancellation By Applicant

Each applicant may cancel the submission by sending a written notification through email to info@oneaspace.org.hk at least 48 hours before the application deadline.

• Use of Submission

By participating, each of you acknowledges and agrees to these terms. No submission will be returned to any participant. Submitted materials are used for any purpose related to the Mid-Career Artist Exhibition & Publication Series. Each participant further acknowledges and agrees that the judges and organiser will have access to and may retain copies of its submission.

• Project Change or Cancellation By Organiser

In case of disputes, the organiser reserves the right to make a final decision, including suspending, terminating, or changing details of the Mid-Career Artist Exhibition & Publication Series and its terms and conditions. The organiser shall not be liable to any participant in any way for any loss, damages, costs, or expenses suffered or incurred (directly or indirectly) by such participant about the project or any changes to or cancellations of the project (in whole or in part).