Kvartira S Gallery announces an Open Call for participation in the group exhibition
“ABSOLUTE EQUILIBRIUM,”
which will take place in the exhibition halls of the ARTPLAY Design Center
(Moscow, Kurskaya metro station, 10 N. Syromyatnicheskaya) from June 2 to June 30, 2024.
Applications are accepted until May 23, 2024 at opencall@kvartiras.com.
The number of participants is limited.
Works on political themes, the epidemiological situation and nudes will not be accepted for the exhibition.
Curator - Maria Grafutko, art historian, member of the Association of Art Historians, art journalist.
As part of the project, we invite artists to reflect on the idea that human beings are designed by nature itself to exist in a state of stability and equilibrium, yet some systems operate differently.
Since ancient times, humankind has sought ways to overcome instability and imbalance. The ancient Egyptians believed that each person is ultimately responsible for their own life, and that life should be lived in balance and harmony with the earth and with other people. Antiquity gave rise to the idea of ataraxia—a state of inner peace, equanimity, and absolute balance. This state could be attained through the pursuit of truth and liberation from vanity, obsession, and the desire for external material goods. In Ancient China, it was believed that emptiness lies at the heart of all things and that through it one can attain “satori”—inner peace and equilibrium. Yet this cannot be learned: balance can only be comprehended; it cannot be put into words or explained to another person. According to the Academic Dictionary, “a system is considered to be in a state of equilibrium if the forces acting upon it counterbalance one another or are entirely absent.”
In other words, overcoming instability and imbalance does not always mean searching for a stable place. It means awareness, overcoming fear, and focusing inward. And then there is no need to search for anything.
We invite artists to submit proposals describing their own original way of finding balance; philosophical reflections culminating in the proposed works of art; and projects exploring paths towards equanimity and tranquillity.
We welcome submissions of paintings and graphic works, mixed media, sculpture, photography, and installations.
Applications sent to opencall@kvartiras.com must include:
- a CV (the artist’s portfolio in any format and a short biography in Word, submitted as separate files);
- high-quality photographs of 1–3 completed works, specifying their dimensions, materials, year of creation, and price;
- a photograph of the artist in JPEG format;
- a description of the proposed works (please explain how each work reflects the exhibition’s stated theme).
Eligible submissions include painting, graphic art (framed in a slim light-coloured or black frame), photography, installations, collages, and large-scale sculptures—from 1 to 3 works per artist. The selection will be made by the curator and the gallery team. All works in the exhibition will be available for purchase.
Please note! Participation requires a membership fee:
6,000 roubles for gallery residents and 10,000 roubles for new participants.
The membership fee covers installation services, the printing of promotional materials, PR, announcements in the media and on social networks, the opening event, and guided exhibition tours. The fee is payable after the works have been selected and the exhibition participation agreement has been signed. The fee is fixed and does not depend on the number of works exhibited.
An agreement will be concluded with each participant.
For further details, please contact us at info@kvartiras.com
