OPEN CALL FOR 2022 PLAN8T Curatorial Art Residency Program

SOFT SPACE

When you see the word “space”, please pause for a moment to think about what you would interpret it to mean. 

Space itself, as a concept of material existence, is most intuitively associated with a well-defined area of activity. We do not want to discuss here the obscure definitions or formulas of space in mathematics, physics, or astronautics. Let’s think once again about “space”, the “space” that has the possibility to change, and even to exist only in the imagination and not in the frontiers.

Walking into a building with turning corners and changes in light and shadow, the flow of time affects the pattern of shadows cast by light here, and visitors experience different changes in reality and space and feel the passage of time. Imagine yourself walking in the middle of the desert, looking far away from the mirage that should not exist here, scientific knowledge lets you know that the scene in front of you is not “real”. When you open a book written by a novelist who is good at depicting scenes, the words outline the scene, and the readers’ associations based on their experience color the illusory painting, and together they complete the scene of the characters’ activities in the book. With the rapid development of information technology, many creators are able to create in the virtual world without being bound by the physical limitations of reality, making our perception of “experience” richer and more diversified. Imagine yourself being greeted by a warm hug instead of a nod or a handshake, would you be surprised by the difference or even discomfort in your first reaction. Everyone has a space of distance on the social level due to their upbringing, social environment, and cultural customs, but as the relationship deepens, the “space” between people has the possibility of expansion and contraction.

All these “spaces” as mentioned are flexible and fluid and have the possibility of divergence and variation due to the ideas of the subjective objects (whether they are the “creators” or “participants” of these spaces). We never move out of any physical space in reality, but the interaction and exchange of energy with space varies according to each individual’s perception of the world, and the mental world influences the individual’s connection with the surroundings and the people and things in front of us.

At this point, perhaps the aforementioned “space” can be related to a certain extent to the spiritual world without established boundaries or even poetic and psychedelic, a place with more blurred boundaries, extensibility, and inclusive plasticity. The purpose of this curatorial program is to use a defined physical space to shape the exhibition through the ideas and perspectives of multiple curators, to interpret abstract concepts concretely in the exhibition, to depict the shape of “space” with curatorial ideas and exhibition contexts, and to leave it to the audience to interpret --- to build a “soft space” that embraces possibilities.

Soft space is a spiritual space created by thinking about and responding to the human condition and social environment on the level of physical reality.

 Eligibility

1. Young curators, curatorial teams, artists’ groups

2. Living in mainland China; no restrictions on nationality

3. Passionate and self-driven about the issue of concern

4. Exhibit the ability to complete curatorial research and writing and manage the exhibition

The Mode of Residency  

The 2022 residency program, the Curatorial Program, is conducted in two terms, with different execution methods for the two.

• First Term

The first term of the residency program is aimed at budding curators or curatorial teams with relevant art backgrounds and curatorial ideas, but with little practical experience, with the aim of assisting the participants in landing exhibitions and helping them accumulate experience. During the residency period, the main focus will be on online communication. When the exhibition is set up, the contributing curator/curatorial team will be required to come to the P8 community to follow and control the work related to the exhibition.

The selected candidates will communicate with P8 regularly during the residency period about the curatorial direction and the implementation of the exhibition proposal. During this period, all selected candidates are required to participate in open discussions on the theme of the residency, curatorial direction, exhibition work and other aspects of self-assessment and mutual evaluation.

Timeline For First Term
4/14 Application deadline for the first term
4/18 - 4/22 Notification of results
4/25 - 5/20 Residency period (Online)
5/23 - 6/3 Exhibition preparation 
6/4 Opening of the first term of the exhibition
7/31 The closing ceremony of the 1st term
8/1 - 8/12 Deinstallation and return of the artworks

• Second Term

The second term of the residency program is aimed at young curators/curatorial teams with relevant curatorial research and practical experience, with the aim of promoting the exchange of issues and current trends and exploring multiple models of curatorial work. The format of the residency is an offline local residency, and participating exhibitors are required to come to Changsha’s P8 for the residency.

Participants will submit a statement of intent (explaining their motivation and briefly explaining their plans and curatorial directions during the residency), participate in a series of interactive activities during the residency, share their past experiences and research, incorporate multiple perspectives to continuously improve their curatorial proposals and continue to prepare for the exhibition on the ground. In this process, the curators will continue to polish their creative proposals and push them forward to the actual exhibition opening.

The second term of the residency program is aimed at young curators/curatorial teams with relevant curatorial research and practical experience, with the aim of promoting the exchange of issues and current trends and exploring multiple models of curatorial work. The format of the residency is an offline local residency, and participating exhibitors are required to come to Changsha’s P8 for the residency.

Participants will submit a statement of intent (explaining their motivation and briefly explaining their plans and curatorial directions during the residency), participate in a series of interactive activities during the residency, share their past experiences and research, incorporate multiple perspectives to continuously improve their curatorial proposals and continue to prepare for the exhibition on the ground. In this process, the curators will continue to polish their creative proposals and push them forward to the actual exhibition opening.

Timeline For Second Term
7/7 Application deadline for the second term
7/15 – 7/31 Notification of results
8/15 - 9/30 Residency and installation
9/30 Opening of the second term of the exhibition
11/27 The closing ceremony of the 2nd term
11/28 - 12/9 Deinstallation and return of the artworks

Program Results

As an outcome of the program and in addition, to carry out the curatorial program on the site, participants are required to write a summary essay or report on their participation in the program with assistance from the organizers for program documentation and dissemination. Participants are also required to host public education activities such as exchange lectures, sharing sessions, workshops, etc. during the program period (residency and/or exhibition).

EXHIBITIONS

OPEN CALL

PLAN8T AIR SUMMER 2021

OPEN CALL

In the immense solitude of the ocean, a whale called Alice was once thought to be the loneliest whale in the world. Not following the usual baleen whale migratory channels, Alice was found in the sea nearly half a world away from the usual pathway. While others of her kind communicate between 12 and 25Hz, Alice sings at 51.75Hz.

Plan8t AIR SPRING 2019 OPEN STUDIO

We launched Open AIR Studio for artists in the residency to share their work and exchange thoughts with people during their creative processes.