Call for Participation – Self/Other
Call for Participation
Artists who explore the relationship between the Self and the Other are invited to respond with images and short positional statements for publication. This call is addressed as much to practitioners in Performance Art as for Visual Artists.
Since the Renaissance the purpose of Art has moved more to the individual and the personal together with its intention. In practice however this purpose and intention may be perturbed, perhaps when the meaning of the artwork is unclear, when the results are in conflict with an inner visualisation or when the artist loses in some sense of struggle with the effort of creation. At these points in development the Artist may feel not alone with the artwork and a sensation of Otherness, alterity may be noticed.
Self and Identity have become major themes of our connected lives. The heroic stance of the Artist is to be demonstrated by feats of daring-do and self-doubt can seem an unwanted diversion. It becomes easier to associate with like-minded people. We build ³bubbles² of comfort and only sometimes manage to discern the difference between ourselves and other people. The bubble remains intact; wars, elections, referenda rattle our security but for many life continues as before.
Engagement with the Other can be a significant step in the development process. As artists, we need to reach further than most. We need to approach the Otherness of the outside world with more generosity. To accept that possibly we cannot answer questions about selfhood without a recognition that the differences between people, experienced as alienation and separation, are unreal : following Paul Ricoeur and his work ³Oneself as Another², we must accept that we have too much Otherness within ourselves. This call is to reach out to you as an artist with this shared interest and to join with me in a community of shared research. I found this line of research beginning with the cast shadow of the self and through exploring its independent, isolated and wayward behaviour. I have previously made a short monograph ³Shadow:Other:myself² (ISBN 978-1977535535, preview https://goo.gl/TC6DqV )
To take this goal of community building further my contribution is to make a limited edition, hardback book of your contributions. The book will feature 20 (approx. ) artists with images and facing text. In the first instance, two copies will be gifted to each selected participant. This is intended as a directory for this group, to help you extend your networks. We can then discuss our next steps which might include a curated show/performance or a mainstream publication.
Initially, send an image and an account (200 words) to describe your Self¹s response to the Other with a URL for other relevant work. The artist must confirm that they own copyright in the image and text. Please also say how you found this call.
On progress the selected image must be available in hi-res (3000 x 3000 pixels) — the artist will at all times retain control of copyright both of image and text. As editor I can help you with any translation from your own words, the text of the book will be published in English.
Deadline 31/03/2018
Keywords: alterity, Art, book, intersubjectivity, ipseity, Publication
Email: aldobranti@gmail.com
Web: http://aldobranti.eu/