Deadline: December 20, 2020
Entry Fee: Free
Prizes: €1,000, €2,000, €3,000, participation in the exhibition, publication of a personal catalogue
In 2021 it will be the 700th anniversary of Dante’s death, who lived the last period of his life in Ravenna, where he died in 1321. Given the important anniversary and the bonds of the poet with the city of Ravenna, we propose a photographic contest themed on the concept, cornerstone and foundation of the work of Dante: La Vita Nova, life renewed by Love, in its many forms and possibilities.
Dante, in an initiatory journey, intimate and painfully human, lets us discover the possibilities of love, the experiments of the human soul that suffers and lets itself be enhanced, aspires to the fulfillment of the senses, and then retreats into an inner sphere, in which the projection of eros towards the beloved is enough to achieve the most intimate and profound self. Finally, renewed by Love, Dante rediscovers Beatrice, pure spirit, and thus takes, through her, the last step towards the mystical ennoblement of divine sentiment, the agape.
The history of contemporary art gives us many examples of artists who made Love the center of their artistic production, declining it according to various and multiple forms, choosing interpretations, offering possibilities. From Experimental Relationship by Chinese photographer Pixy Liao, who stages the love affair with her boyfriend, to The lovers, the performance performed by Marina Abramovic and Ulay who in 1988 decided to travel the Wall of China to meet halfway and declare the end of their love; from Sentimental Journey and Winter Journey by Nobyoushi Araki, series of photographs taken to his beloved wife during the honeymoon and then near his death, at the happening The Kiss by Tino Sehgal: there are numerous works dedicated to this theme and its possible variations.
In the light of this premise, what is required from the participants joining the competition is a free interpretation of life renewed by love in one of its possible declinations, enhancing a clear, thought and planned use of photography.
How to participate?
The competition is reserved to young photographers under 35 years of age (born before 1th January 1985)
To participate the competition it is necessary to submit all the materials listed (all the materials can be sent exclusively in digital format through the free file-sharing website WeTransfer, to the address palazzorasponi2@comune.ra.it at the latest by 20th December 2020):
- A copy of your I.D.
- Filled form with a short biography of the artist/collective and an explanatory text of the project which he/she intends to present (maximum 1500 keystrokes, including spaces);
- From 10 to 15 photographs at the highest definition named as it follows:
- name.surname_projectname_01,…02,…03
- Authorization to those in charge of communicating the award to process personal data and to use the images on social networks;
- The candidates can also send an optional description of the set-up methods (type of photographic paper and support, ideal size of prints) which will help the commission to better understand the technical characteristics of the project.
All participants in the competition are also invited to publish the images on Instagram, using the hashtags #PR2 #camerawork_ra #cameracall.
Prizes & Jury
The jury, chaired by Silvia Camporesi (artist, artistic director of the review Camera Work) and composed of Carlo Sala (curator, teacher, artistic director of the festival Photo Open Up in Padua) and Giangavino Pazzola (curator of Camera, Turin), will select the winners by awarding the following prizes:
- 1st Prize: 3000 € (gross), a solo exhibition at Palazzo Rasponi 2, the publication of a personal catalogue.
- 2nd Prize: 2000 € (gross), a solo exhibition at Palazzo Rasponi 2, the publication of a personal catalogue.
- 3rd Prize: 1000 € (gross), a solo exhibition at Palazzo Rasponi 2, the publication of a personal catalogue.
The three winners will exhibit, for a period of three weeks, in space PR2 of the Municipality of Ravenna. The production of the exhibition and its transport to Ravenna is borne by the artist, while the expenses of preparation and stay of the artist during the opening, will be borne by the City. At the end of the exhibition, the artist undertakes to donate to Camera Work one of the works produced for the solo exhibition. Camera Work is committed to preserving them in the best way and to giving them prominence, over time, through exhibitions and other events.
In addition to the three winners, the jury will select a shortlist of twenty authors, who will exhibit within the Camera Work/OFF FESTIVAL in April 2021.
