ART CALL “Transforming Literary Places”

“Transforming Literary Places”

We are excited to announce an open call for artistic submissions for our upcoming art exhibition, “Transforming Literary Places.” This exhibition seeks to explore the profound and imaginative connections between literature and other arts, highlighting the way in which stories and words can shape, inspire, and transform physical spaces.

Theme: A geographical place in literature always possesses a plethora of connotations: it has a role in the spatial configuration of the text, it is charged with emotional significance, it holds symbolic values, and it can imply different ways to guide the readers through it. “Transforming Literary Places” invites artists to reinterpret, reimagine, and breathe new life into the settings of well-loved literary works. Whether it is the intricacies of Borgesian labyrinths, the mystical realms of Middle-earth, the bustling streets of Victorian London, or any other iconic literary locale, we encourage artists to create artworks that capture the essence and evolution of these places in their own unique ways. We are interested in how specific literary locations (literary descriptions of general or particular geographical places) are creatively adapted and re-interpreted in aural, visual, audiovisual, and interactive representations. We look for a broad range of artistic expressions, from paintings and drawings to on-screen digital art, virtual reality experiences, and mixed-media installations.

Eligibility: This call is open to artists of all backgrounds and experience levels.

Artistic Medium: Interactive digital narratives, digital art, drawing, painting. Among the digital art pieces, we welcome audio, visual, and audio-visual works, both on-screen and in Virtual Reality. Installations and other kinds of pieces will be considered on a per-case basis also depending on space restrictions.

Selection Process: A panel of experts will review submissions and select artworks based on creativity, quality, and relevance to the theme.

Expression of Interest: Please send an expression of interest to the curators with ideas about the piece to submit by November 25th, 2023. In the expression of interest, please specify a provisional size and any requirements for your piece.

Submission Deadline: All submissions must be received by February 1st, 2024.

Exhibition Dates: The exhibition will be held from March 28th to May 18th, 2024.

Location and Context: University of Tartu Art Museum, University of Tartu main building – Ülikooli 18, 50090 Tartu, Estonia: https://muuseum.ut.ee/en/art-museum. The exhibition is included in the official program of Tartu 2024 – European Capital of Culture. It will feature as part of the Literary Festival Prima Vista 2024 “Futures Better and Worse”, and in the social program for the International Conference of the Science Fiction Research Association (SFRA).

Prizes: Artists whose pieces are selected to be exhibited will receive a prize in money, depending on the piece produced and on its size, to be discussed with the artist and indicatively following the list below:

Illustrations: 150€
Paintings: 200€
On-screen digital art: 200€
VR digital art: 300€
Other pieces: Evaluated per case

We look forward to receiving your unique interpretations of literary places and to showcasing the diverse talents of artists who draw inspiration from the written word. Your participation in this exhibition will contribute to a vibrant exploration of the intersection of literature and visual arts.

“Transforming Literary Places” promises to be a celebration of creativity, imagination, and the enduring power of storytelling. We can’t wait to see how you bring these literary worlds to life through your art!