We are excited to announce an open call for the artist residency project “A Critical View on Plastic”, open to 1-3 individual artists. At least one will be an artist-in-residence at Art in Lov Residence, while the others can be local artists from the Loviisa region, either showcasing their own project or collaborating with the resident artist.
RESIDENCY PROJECT AND EXHIBITION
Deadline: 15th January 2025
Location: Art in Lov Residence, Loviisa, Finland
Residency Period:
- 5th March – 5th June 2025, one to three months so that the artist is in Loviisa during week 22 when the exhibition is built and opened.
Exhibition: During these three months, the selected artist(s) will develop work or a body of works for an exhibition shown in parallel to the Loviisa Town Museum’s exhibition on the history of plastic production in Loviisa.
Plastic Fantastic – When Plastic Arrived to Loviisa
Loviisa Town Museum’s upcoming exhibition discusses how plastic became a part of the local residents’ everyday lives and how the plastic industry blossomed in the region of Loviisa after the end of the Second World War. At the Strömfors mill in Ruotsinpyhtää, both the sawmill and the iron mill were closed down and were replaced by a plastic factory in 1947. Sanka Oy, another plastic factory in the Loviisa region, was established a few years later in 1950. A few years down the line, it became one of Finland’s largest manufacturers of acrylic glass. In Kuninkaankylä, Polykem made their round futuristic Futuro-houses from reinforced plastic. The same material was also used in Köpbacka by Fibera Oy in the process of making some of the world’s first plastic glider planes.
The history of the plastic industry goes hand in hand with the history of Finnish design. Well-known Finnish designers such as Yki Nummi, Tapio Wirkkala, Liisa Johansson-Pape, and Heikki Turunen designed light fixtures, dishes, and other everyday items that were manufactured in plastic factories located in the Loviisa region.
In post-war Finland, plastic was seen as the material of the future that offered great opportunities. However, the future has also shown us the unwanted consequences of plastic consumption. Today, the usage of plastic is greater than ever before, and its environmental impacts are enormous. To create some contrast to our exhibition’s atmosphere of the post-war plastic utopia, we wish to find contemporary works of art that bring to light the more problematic aspects of the usage, production, and consumption of plastic.
We encourage artistic projects that address the theme of Sustainability, defined as meeting our needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. This includes not only environmental but also social and economic sustainability.
The exhibition will take place in the museum’s summer exhibition spaces, located in the vaulted grey stone cellar of the museum building, featuring red brick and plaster walls and a sand floor. Works exhibited here will be exposed to high humidity, so the space is not suitable for works on paper or other humidity-sensitive materials.
Artists can work independently or in collaboration. If you prefer to work collaboratively, please specify what type of collaboration you are open to (working methods, themes, etc.). Both international and local artists can apply to work independently or be paired with another artist.
Local artists may also apply to work in partnership with an specific international artist – if so, both artists must be included in the application.
Projects that engage the local community, such as workshops or public events, are encouraged. If you plan to work with the community, please include details about your previous experience with such projects in your application.
About Art in Lov Residence and Loviisa: Loviisa is a small coastal town with a bilingual community and a dynamic art scene. At Art in Lov Residence, we aim to broaden our horizons by supporting initiatives that leave a lasting impact. Residency artists will work locally and reside in Loviisa during their stay.
The residence provides accommodation in an apartment with single rooms for each artist and access to a shared studio space. Please note that neither the residence spaces nor the museum exhibition space are wheelchair accessible. We will do our best to accommodate applicants with mobility restrictions, please specify accesibility needs in application.
Artists are expected to actively participate in the production process, which includes practical tasks related to project arrangements, online activity, and the dissemination of information. Art in Lov Residence is an artist-run space with no employees; while we offer support and guidance, artists are responsible for their project’s execution including installing the exhibition with the guidance of museum personell.
Residency Benefits:
- Free Accommodation: A shared apartment with private rooms for up to 3 artists, along with a shared studio.
- Travel Expenses: Covered up to 200€ (or up to 400€ if less fossil fuel consuming options are chosen).
- Artist Fee: 800€/month for resident artists. Local artists can receive up to 800€/month, depending on the time spent on the project.
- Material Expenses: 200€ – 400€/artist.
- Comlimentary funding: Artists are welcome to apply for comlimentary funding on top of the provided funds.
How to Apply:
Send a free-form application briefly introducing the artist(s) involved, the proposed theme, and the working methods. It is essential to explain how the work could relate to the theme of Plastic and Sustainability.
In the body of the email, include a summary of the proposed project and a short bio. You may attach a CV, portfolio, and links to relevant online material, but this is not mandatory.
Also mention the time frame you would prefer to spend in the residency/working with the project between 5th March – 5th June 2025, please note that minimum time is one month and that artist need to be in Loviisa during week 22 when the exhibition is built and opened. It is possible to split the residency period in to smaller blocks, travel back and forth at own cost. It may be possible to bring family and pets, please enquire about this in application.
Send your application to: art@artinlov.org
Selection Process: Artists will be selected by the curatorial board of Art in Lov Residence in collaboration with the staff of Loviisa Town Museum. The selection will be based on a realistic plan, artistic merit, relevance to the theme and the suitability of the project in relation to the historical exhibition.
Artists will be notified of the selection by January 30, 2025.
For more information: www.artinlov.org
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