Quo Artis Award 2020
For production in art, science and technology
We are delighted to announce that the selected projects for the First Edition of the QUO ARTIS AWARD FOR PRODUCTION IN ART, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2020 are:
1st prize: 5.000€ For the production of the artwork
Humatker
By Sandra and Gaspard Bébié-Valérian
Humatker is a project of sculpture-installation that takes the shape of a human 3D-printed spine. On this spine, an intriguing fungus, the Physarum Polycephalum, commonly defined as ‘blob’, grows. It explores the folds of each one of the vertebrae.
“Our current research deals with the process of mycoremediation, a means to clean up, to cure undersoil through the action of mushrooms. The fungal realm is enlightening, inspiring. One can observe its numerous applications in the field of agroecology, medicine, or design. But we are principally interested in its potential as a green agent that may involve myths, legends, and deep beliefs. The mycelium as an image of an extensive network embodies the idea of connecting various living organisms, fostering symbiosis, and new interspecies paths”.
2nd prize: 1.000€ For the acknowledgement of the proposal
The Maihaiowit’s Lullaby
By Fernando Martín Velazco⠀
The Maihaiowit’s Lullaby is an acoustic record of a secret cetacean ritual in which a massive group of gray whales, together and in synchronicity, makes strong exhalations on the surface of the water.
The artist is inspired by the Yuman tradition (natives from the Mexico-US border in the Pacific Coast) which tells the myth of the Maihaiowit, a sea serpent who lives in the Ocean, and who once upon a time came to teach each of the six Yuman people their secret chants and songs.
Yuman cultures are disappearing, as not long ago the gray whales almost did. This project pretends to make a fine recording –an acoustic piece– of the cetacean ritual and give it as a gift to the remaining Yumans, as a reminder that their territory still preserves the Maihaiowit’s chant.
Selected by The Jury
- Annick Bureaud, Curator, Director of Leonardo/Olats
- Maja Smrekar, Interdisciplinary artist and researcher
- Dimitri Ozerkov, Curator, Director of Contemporary Art Department of the State Hermitage Museum
- Ricard Jiménez, Scientific Director of The Technology Centre Eurecat, Member of the Board of Trustees of Quo Artis
- Belén Gilarranz, Deputy Director of FECYT (Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology)
- Tatiana Kourochkina, Co-Founder and Director of Quo Artis
- Claudia Machuca, Project Manager of Quo Artis
Our most sincere congratulations to the artists!
Guidelines
QUO ARTIS AWARD for Production in Art, Science and Technology 2020
Deadline: 6 September 2020 (11:59:59 CEST)
Quo Artis is an international non-profit organization that seeks to generate connections between art, science and technology, acting as a bridge between professionals in these fields. To mark its fifth anniversary, the foundation is announcing the first outing of its award to the research, development and production of an artistic project, or the part of an ongoing one, that has not been implemented before.
The award is aimed at international artists or artistic collectives (collaborative groups), both established and emerging, working with any kind of materials and techniques, who produce ground-breaking and innovative artworks. Quo Artis encourages ambitious, well-presented applications.
The Quo Artis Award aims to engage with critical contemporary issues and topics; promote the experimentation and innovation of art practices; encourage new endeavours in the field of art and science and recognize artists who have demonstrated creativity and outstanding achievement.
In this first Open Call for proposals, applicants must address pressing current issues facing global society. Applicants must directly address one or more of these themes:
- PostNatural Histories
- Anthropocene, Capitalocene & Biocene
- Art, systems and collective and emergent intelligence
- Artificial intelligence, living systems, natural data, living machines and synthetic life
The Quo Artis Award —recognised and supported by FECYT (Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology) of Spain’s Ministry of Science and Innovation— is part of the foundation’s commitment to art and science and artists through exhibitions, expeditions and public programmes.
Key dates
Call: 1 July – 6 September 2020 (11:59:59pm CEST)
Deadline: 6 September 2020 (11:59:59pm CEST)
Announcement of the winning proposals: 12 November 2020
How to apply
Entries will be submitted exclusively by email to award@quoartis.org
Fill out the application form (here) and send a single PDF (maximum 5 MB).
Only one project, which must be new, will be accepted per person or group.
There is no limitation on the medium/technique, but both scientific and artistic ideas must be represented.
Given the international nature of the jury, English is the language to be used in the application.
No entry or administration fee is required to submit your proposal.
Jury
The winning artist will be selected by an international jury.
- Annick Bureaud, curator, Director of Leonardo/Olats.
- Maja Smrekar, Artist.
- Dimitri Ozerkov, curator, Director of Contemporary Art Department of the State Hermitage Museum.
- Ricard Jiménez, Industrial Scientific Director of Eurecat, Member of the board of trustees of Quo Artis.
- Belen Gilarranz, Deputy Director of FECYT (Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology).
Prize
First prize: 5,000€ (VAT included).
The amount must be spent exclusively on the production (total or partial) of the work. An artist fee of 1000€ is included in the budget.
The sum of 5,000€ will be paid in two phases, as follows: 1. Payment of 3,500€ within 30 days of the announcement of the winning project; 2. Payment of 1,500€ on presentation of a project progress report.
The report requirements will be provided upon winning the prize and payment will be specified once the report in question has been approved.
The project must be completed in a maximum period of 6 months, starting within 60 calendar days of the date of notification.
No additional benefits or extensions of the award may be requested.
The author or authors must mention Quo Artis every time the work is exhibited or publicized by any means or in any other field.
Second prize: 1,000€ (VAT included).
This Award does not require the material production of the piece; it is a monetary acknowledgment of the proposal.
The sum of 1,000€ will be paid within 30 days of the announcement of the winning project.
If the author/s materialize the work, they agree to mention QUO ARTIS every time the work is exhibited or publicized by any means or in any other field.
Reproduction rights
The artists must cede the image reproduction non-exclusive rights to Quo Artis Foundation to be used for the sole purpose of non-profit cultural diffusion.
Acceptance of the conditions of entry
All entrants, by virtue of their participation, fully accept these rules, as well as the resolution of any issue not covered by them that is adopted by the Foundation and/or Jury.
Questions
award@quoartis.org
