Short Description:
We make of our memories the gods which judge our current lives, because they are our creators, and we can understand ourselves as a reflection of their image. Yet, we are not beholden to what we see mirrored in the surface of the ever-running river of time; with will and want one can reroute its course, disturb its surface, and participate actively in the continuity of living, flowing, memory. The way things were is not always the way we (choose to) remember them, which is simply to say that running water has a funny way of shaping everything it touches; the fluvial geomorphology of time itself has shaped the very landscape of our past experiences.
Co-Ex’s sixth call for submissions is dedicated to the theme of memory and nostalgia, our longing gaze upstream towards all that came before. We invite you to reflect not on the past but on the way we remember it, the way we hold on to and cherish it, and how this process then permeates into the beating heart of the present.
Cultural Memory
- Collective memory
- Cultural influence on individual memory
- Cognitive sociology
- Sociobiographical memory | perception & memory
- Forgotten histories
- Traditions and ceremonies
- Censorship/power over memory
- How we remember: clothing, photographs, music, etc.
Genetic Memory
- Our bodies/ancestors
- Plants/…
- Animal instincts
- Evolution
Nostalgia
- Cultural artifacts
- Cultural nostalgia
- False sense of belonging
- Escapism as a coping mechanism for change
- Social connection
- Possessions having sentimental value
Dictionary of obscure sorrows
- Aulacy – the sadness that there is no way to convey a powerful memory to people who were not there.
- Annamoia – Nostalgia for a time or a place one has never known.
The fantasy of Memory
- Storytelling
- Truth & imagination in memories
- Creating false memories in children
- Romanticizing the past (the golden age)
- Cultural legends
- Folklore and urban legends
Application Requirements:
Submissions are now accepted exclusively through the portal on our website; artists must first upload their work to their profile page before officially submitting it through the Call for Submissions process. Email submissions will no longer be accepted. All submissions must include an artist’s statement that clearly links the work to the current Call for Submissions—entries without a complete statement will not be considered. Work from all creative mediums is welcome, including sculpture, painting, drawing, performative arts, music, written work, textile arts, ceramics, mixed media, prints, digital art, short films, and more. Collaboration is encouraged but not required. If you have an idea but need help making it happen, or want to collaborate but don’t have a partner, feel free to reach out—maybe we can help!
Eligibility:
Open worldwide
Program Benefits or Awards:
The chosen pieces will be featured in Co-Ex’s online art gallery.
Entry Fee: none
Location: Ontario, Canada
Deadline: September 27, 2025
Website link:
