I, Camera - Photographers' self-portraits from Wellington & beyond

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Deadline 25 October 2021. Extended to 31 October 2021

Exhibition opens late 2021

at Photospace Gallery, 37 Courtenay Pl, Wellington

In today’s world, photographers and photographic artists turn self-portraiture to a huge variety of uses. It remains a powerful tool for the exploration and documentation of the self and for posing questions about the nature of ‘truth’ and ‘fiction’. For some, it becomes a political vehicle for investigating issues of race, gender, sexuality, and national identity, where the artist’s body may represent a metaphor for a broader, abstract concept. For others, autobiographical and diaristic work may take on a cathartic or therapeutic function. Performance and masquerade can be used in provocative and challenging ways to explore themes of masculinity, femininity, colonialism, power, history and cultural identity.

I, Camera will be a curated exhibition focussing on the theme of self-portraiture. Photography is the most democratic of mediums, and this creates interesting interplays of ideas and perspectives. In keeping with Photography Aotearoa’s aim of ‘encouraging, enriching and inspiring photography in Aotearoa New Zealand’ we are inviting submissions from photographers and artists at all stages of their careers, from students and new graduates to established practitioners.

The definition of self-portrait is broad, but the images must show the artist and we are looking for a degree of depth or complexity that takes the images a step beyond the ubiquitous ‘selfie’ of social media. For example, they may explore the concept of identity or the self; offer the viewer a particular, intentional or edgy point of view; serve as a tool for addressing a social or philosophical question; or act as a metaphor for a more universal or abstract concept.

Criteria for submissions: deadline 25 October 2021

Any photographer or photographic artist may submit work. We are looking for single images or small series of no more than 4 images. The work must be photographically based and must in some way show the artist. It may take the form of prints for wall display, projections, digital display, or mixed media. The work may have been made recently or at any time in the past.

Photography Aotearoa has a budget for printing, but any framing or mixed media work will need to be at the artist’s expense.

Send submissions by e-mail to curator@photographyaotearoa.org.nz, along with –

a couple of sentences about the work;

a couple of sentences about yourself;

a physical description of the finished work – whether it is a print or prints, for projection or digital display, a mixed-media work, etc – and the dimensions;

a set of low-resolution sample images (JPEGS of no more than 750 kB);

your contact details – e-mail address and telephone number.

(If your work needs to be printed, we will arrange to get high-resolution, print-ready files from you after the selection process has been completed.)

I, Camera - CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS