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Social sculptures: a 10-day workshop for artists

socialsculptures call for artists

On the occasion of BEUYS100, the Goethe-Institut Zypern announces a Call for Artists for Social Sculptures, a series of events including a workshop and exhibition at Goethe in April and September. Social Sculptures will unfold with a ten-day workshop facilitated by cultural practitioners and artists whose practices are inspired by and draw from Joseph Beuys’ social-sculpture projects.

Beuys is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential artists of the second half of the 20th century. He was a German Fluxus, happening and performance artist as well as a painter, sculptor, installation artist, graphic artist, art theorist and pedagogue. His career was characterised by open public debates on a wide range of subjects including political, environmental, social and long-term cultural trends.

The workshop will run from April 19 to 29 and will focus on the concept of social sculpture, which Beuys developed in the early 1970s. The term is centred on the belief that art could include the entire process of living — thoughts, actions, conversation, and objects — and could be enacted collectively by a wide range of people.

Beyond the exploration of Beuys’ actions, demonstrating his commitment to direct democracy, radical pedagogy and environmentalism, the workshop will also reflect on artists whose practices convey social and political ideals. Its aim is to reveal local cultural issues and sketch ways of reacting to and tackling them. Such themes respond to the urgency of recognising the status of the artist in Cyprus and the necessity of continually redefining the role of the artist in society.

The facilitators’ seminars will recount these questions and expand through looking at the origins of performance art origin and Beuys’ declaration that ‘art equals capital’. The vulnerability of culture, the notion of female materials and tactility, and collaboration as a means for art-making will also be discussed in the workshop.

The workshop will involve various kinds of practical sessions, including elaboration processes in drawing, sound making, sculpting and acting, all with the aim of facilitating artists to extend their artistic practice. Both theory and practice will focus on the participants’ practices, while their own references and experiences will inform the workshop.

Participation is free and each participant will receive a per diem allowance of €150 for the duration of the workshop. Artists interested in applying should send a short biography and an artist’s statement of maximum of 200 words, images of their work, a link to their website or portfolio and a statement answering the question: how do you expect this workshop to benefit your practice? The above should be emailed in a single PDF file to [email protected] by March 31 and candidates will be notified by April 2.

 

Social Sculptures

Open call for a 10-day workshop for artists. By Goethe-Institut Zypern. Deadline: March 31. [email protected]

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