Open Call
Point of View
"The world is not what I think, but what I live." (Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Phenomenology of Perception)
We are inviting artists living in Vienna to show works alongside artists from Albania either with a show in Vienna from June 26th - July 3rd 2025, or showing artworks in Tirana, Albania from November 28th - December 1st 2025. For each exhibition, three artists from Vienna will show their work together with three artists from Tirana. In the 4 weeks leading up to each exhibition, participating artists will also engage in an artistic and intercultural exchange though an online residency. Each artist will participate in EITHER the Vienna OR Tirana exhibition and residency (not both).
Concept
Both the show in Vienna (Standpoint) and Tirana (Frame of Reference) aim to explore the subjective nature of experience and the role of individual perception in shaping reality. Our point of view is deeply rooted in our personal, embodied experience of the world. We don’t just "see" the world from a detached perspective; we are inextricably involved in it.
Our "point of view" is not simply a passive lens but an active, embodied interaction with the world. we aim to build a wholistic experince using artworks that focus on how individuals experience and interpret the world from their own perspectives; shaped by their body, senses, and consciousness. Maurice Merleau-Ponty, in particular, argued that perception is not just mental but fundamentally tied to the lived body and its interaction with the environment. This means that each person's point of view is unique, rooted in their sensory and bodily experiences.
In a world that seems more and more divided we aim to push the idea that all perspectives are shaped by cultural, social, or personal contexts, and no one point of view is inherently superior or universally true. That truth is not absolute but relative to different frameworks of belief or perception. The "point of view" that determines right and wrong is subjective, varying from person to person or culture to culture.
The aim is to invigorate collegial debate through discussions, Artist Talks, and relational artworks that build exchange.
Photograph: Dea Shubleka 'Rest in Air'
Group art exhibition
Deadline: April 18th, 2025
Curators: Oliver Cloke, Ziegi Boss
Vienna Exhibition:
June 27th - July 3rd, 2025
WEST / Alte WU, Augasse 2-6, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Tirana Exhibition:
November 28th - December 1st, 2025
Project Structure
Online Residencies: 4 Weeks before each exhibition
In the 4 weeks before each exhibition, there will be an online residency. This will involve a group meeting once per week over zoom with all artists, and self organized communication between artist outside the group meetings. Each artist from Vienna will be paired with an artist from Tirana to engage in discussions on each others artistic practice, concepts and multicultural perspectives.
Vienna Exhibition: June 27th - July 2nd, 2025
Three artists from Vienna will participate, along with three artists from Tirana, Albania. The Albanian artists will come to Vienna and meet with the artists based in Vienna, and be present for installation, the exhibition and an Artist Talk.
Theme: “Point of View - Standpoint”
Exhibition Dates: Installation June 23-25th, Vernissage June 27th, open through July 2nd, Artist Talk June 28th, Deinstallation July 2-3rd.
Exhibition hosted by VCAS, in WEST / Alte WU, Augasse 2-6, 1090 Vienna. Curators: Oliver Cloke, Ziegi Boss
Artist compensation: Depending on funding outcomes, we may be able to provide some financial support for the artists
Tirana Exhibition: November 28th - December 1st, 2025
3 Artists from Vienna will show their work in an exhibition together with 3 artists from Tirana, Albania. The 3 artists from Vienna will travel to Tirana, Albania and meet with the artists based in Tirana, and be present for installation, the exhibition and an Artist Talk. This will take place during the Tirana Art Weekend.
Theme “Point of View - Frame of Reference”
Exhibition Dates: Installation on Nov. 26-27th, Vernissage Nov. 28th, open through Dec. 1st, Artist Talk Nov. 29th, Deinstallation Dec. 1-2nd.
Exhibition hosted by AVAN (Albanian Visual Arts Network), curated by Satellite Zone (Network of young Albanian artists).
Artist Compensation: Depending on funding outcomes, VCAS will provide the 3 artists from Vienna a stipend to cover travel costs and artwork transportation. If we do not receive the funding necessary to support the travel to and from Tirana and artwork transportation, artists would have the option to self-fund the costs, or not travel to Tirana and send the artworks.
How to Apply
Eligibility: This Open Call is for visual artists currently living in Vienna, Austria working in all mediums. VCAS is committed to inclusivity and accessibility, and encourages artists from all backgrounds to apply. If you have any accessibility concerns, please get in touch!
Please fill out the submission form linked below
Included in the submission form:
Contact information
A short written statement, 500 words in English on your interest in participating and how your artistic practice is relevant to the topic of Point of View.
Link(s) to your website, portfolio or other relevant material
Which show you have a preference to make work for
Your suitability to travel
Deadline: April 18th, 2025.
Contact
For inquiries, please contact office@vcasvienna.com.