Open Call for Artists, Curators, and Research Bodies

Confluencing: Chapter I

Selected Artists

Sumac Space and hinterland are thrilled to announce the selected artists for the first chapter of Confluencing. Our open call, which sought to explore contemporary urgencies within the socio-political context of the region, received an inspiring range of submissions. We extend our gratitude to all who submitted their work. The selection process through over 250 submissions was highly competitive, and we commend all participants for their commitment.

Our esteemed jury members, Jonatan Habib Engqvist, Dr. Nat Muller, and Angelika Stepken selected the following artists:

• Abbas Zahedi

• Agil Abdullayev

• Fatemeh Sayyah

• Helena Tahir

• Huseyin Aksoy

• İpek Çınar / Ece Gökalp 

• Mina Nasr

• Reyhaneh Mirjahani

• Shahrzad Darafsheh

• Yaqeen Yamani

• Yasmin Noorbakhsh

• ZînKolektif

We are excited to present these artists' works in Berlin and/or at hinterland, Vienna, throughout 2024 and 2025.

OPEN CALL

Confluencing: Chapter I

A Series of 5-day Exhibitions

Sumac Space–Art Practices of the Middle East in collaboration with hinterland invites artists, curators, and research bodies who address contemporary urgencies in the context of the challenging socio-political circumstances of the region to bmit their work and projects for exhibition in Berlin or/and in Vienna.

Sumac Space believes in the work of art in reimagining and shaping our pasts, presents, and futures, asserting that they must have a public place for their research and diverse forms of expression. As we progressively build a community of artists, curators, researchers, and writers gravitating around the region, we welcome diverse voices to actively participate in forming Sumac Space. We propose collaboration and the fostering of a sense of shared and collective ownership, not as mere themes or theoretical concepts, but as unconditional ways of working.

In this spirit, the first chapter of Confluencing, a series of 5-day exhibitions, will begin in July and continue throughout the year 2024. The exhibitions will be held at a space in Neukölln, Berlin and/or hinterland, Vienna. An international jury will select the finalists, and the Sumac team will curate the exhibition.

This series of exhibitions will serve as an extension of Sumac's digital platform. In spatial terms, the space will host one of the core pillars that shape and define the entirety of Sumac Space, Artists’ Rooms as well. It's a space for the multitudes present in artistic practice and yet may not be visible in the artworks: music, images, poems, formative of our thinking, subjects that inspire and let us learn, objects that are with and within us. Additionally, all conversations generated during the exhibition-making process will be published on Sumac Dialogue.

Members of the Jury:

● Jonatan Habib Engqvist; author, curator

● Dr. Nat Muller; art curator, critic, researcher

● Angelika Stepken; curator, author, researcher

Application Deadline:

● Deadline for submission is 12pm, June 16, 2024.

● The shortlist of exhibiting projects will be announced on June 30, 2024 and the exhibition will run from July 2024 in accordance with each individual selected applicant. We inform you that if your submission is not selected by the jury, Sumac Space and hinterland, with all due respect, will be unable to provide individual feedback.

Eligibility Requirements:

There are no restrictions based on nationality, age, or experience level, and there are no limitations on the media, materials, or techniques to be used in the projects. Applicants are also welcome to submit already existing works.

All entries should be submitted as a single PDF document to sumacspace@gmail.com with the subject line ‘Confluencing + Applicant full name'. The file should include the following:

● A brief biography, no longer than 200 words

● Applicant CV

● Applicant portfolio, If the work includes a video and sound, a link to the complete video

work should be provided (not a trailer or excerpt).

● Project title

● Project description, approximately 450 words

Please do not send any original artworks. We accept submissions only in the English language.

Logistics, IMPORTANT NOTE

The realization of Confluencing: Chapter I is entirely dependent on the in-kind contributions from the community surrounding Sumac Space and hinterland. This includes the invaluable input from our jury members, the Sumac and hinterland team, and all those who respond to this open call. In practical terms, Sumac Space and hinterland will provide the venue, network, infrastructure, promotional support, and assistance for the realization of the project. Please note that we are unable to provide financial support for production, honorarium, travel, accommodation, or shipping. However, we are happy to discuss and explore potential resources for selected applicants who may require financial assistance to participate.

If you have any questions or require further clarification regarding the submission process, we encourage you to contact Davood Madadpoor at contact@sumac.space.