INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE SYMPOSIUM – IRAQ

Aim

The symposium seeks to unite 20 professional artists from around the world in Bagdad to create permanent public sculptures, enriching the squares and public spaces of Bagdad abd other Iraqi governorates, with joy and beauty, harmoniously blending with its ancient architectural splendour and vibrant environment.

This initiative is a cornerstone in our vision of a radiant cultural future, aiming to enhance society’s artistic and cultural landscape. It provides a dynamic platform for exchanging experiences and cultural narratives while producing contemporary stone sculptures. Our goals is to integrate art into daily life, contributing to both local and global art history, and to obtain priceless artistic treasures designed and crafted by professional artists from diverse countries, in Bagdad.

Theme: First Civilizations, A New Dawn

Mesopotamia, the cradle of four ancient civilizations, stands as a testament to humanity’s monumental achievements in science, culture, and art. Bagdad, founded 1.262 years ago and once known as the House of Peace, has been a beacon of scientific and cultural brilliance for centuries. Today, enjoying stability, growtho, and the dawn of urban, artistic prosperity, all professional sculptors are invited to participate in this competition and produce inspiring sculptures that enhance the cultural and aestethic tapestry of Bagdad and Iraq.

In Mesopotamia, myriad visual sources from these ancient civilizations can be woven into modern art to create compelling contemporary projects. Artists are encouraged to express their feelings, worldviews, and artistic concept freely. While drawing inspiration from a culture over 7.000 years old is encouraged, it is not mandatory. Submissions can range from abstract to figurative, realistic to expressive, and modern to contemporary.

The keys to inspiration are: cultural heritage, neauty peace, rebulding, prosperity and stability.

Material

White marble

Selection process

Twenty projects by international and local artists will be selected by the symposium’s curator and a committee of experts.

Cultural program

The cultural program scheduled for artists participating in the symposium includes visits to archeological and historical sites of Mesopotamian civilizations, Sumer, Babylon, the Minaret of Samarra, the Abbasid palace, Al-Mustansiriya School, the Iraqi Antiquities, The Museum of Modern Art, the Marshes, and the holy sights.

Terms, Specifications, and Obligations

1. Artist must submit their projects and application forms for participation identification.
2. Minimum of five years; experience in stone and sculpture symposia.
3. Artists may submit up to 2 new and unique projects that have not been implemented elsewhere.
4. The symposium administration will provide blocks of marble+marble base. The maximum dimensions of the sculpture withouth base should be not less than 3 m in one of dimensions and does not exceed 4m. The number of the marble pieces does not exceed 3 pieces, except for the base. All the blocks will be cut according to the exact measurements requested by the artists. Each artist will be supplied with about 4 mc. Note that the quarry cannot cut marble more the size of 3 meters.
5. Tools and equipment: the symposium will provide the following materials: High quality big and small carving grinders, 230mm and 115mm diamond disks for marble cutting, hammers in 1,2,5,10 kg, chisels hammer drill and core drill, sanding and polishing grinding disks, electricity system of 220 volts and extensions cables. Air compressor-system, water, air blowers and working tents, a crane machine will be at the working site from day to day. However, artists are frre to bring their own cutting, polishing and air tools that they may need according the project to be realized.
6. Artists are responsible for shipping any additionalrequired tools at their own expense.
7. Four professional assistants will be available on-site.
8. The sculpture, completed according to the conditions, will be awarded 5.000 USD
9. The artist should bring the project model/maquette that has been selected in small size from any material made of it.
10. Provided accommodation includes individual rooms in 5 stars hotel, food and beverages, economy travel tickets, and transportation.
11. Local art students will participate for learning and training purposes.
12. Cultural events will include panel talks and introductions to participants.
13. Medical insurance will cover only worksite accidents. The symposium administration will not cover pre-existing conditions.
14. Any projects changes must be approved by the curator.
15. Artists’ companions will not be permitted to accompany artists during the symposium. Artists’ participation in on an individual basis.
16. Non-completion due to illness, accident, neglect, or lack of cooperation will be evaluated by the symposium administration.
17. The administration reserves the right to withhold payment if the final sculpture does not meet the original project specifications.
18. Signing the participation declaration, artist grants the symposium administration the right of ownership and transfer of title to the sculpture and to permanently display it in Baghdad and other iraqi cities, at its discretion, surviving the terms of the agreement and in perpetuity.

Ownership and Intellectual property

After the completion of the work, the sponsor and organiser of the symposium will be the official owner of the sculpture and will have complete freedom to display and istalli t anywhere inside Iraq as well as the right to publish photos and videos in the media, wheter inside or outside Iraq. Moreover, it commits to not copy the sculpture in any size or material in the future. As for the artist has the individual ownership right to reproduce the artwork in any place other than Iraq and videos in publications, books, commercial purposes, and social media platforms.

HOW TO APPLY:

• Complete the application form via the submission link https://forms.gle/AeZ7Ym985qJZvhDN6
• Provide biography, personal photo, and images of 5 previous stone sculptures
• Submit up to 2 new and unique projects that have not been previously implemented, include 5 digital photo (jpg format, max 10 MP) of the projects from multiple angles, with realistic final sculpture measurements.
• Real model images and 3D digital model images are accepted, sketches are not accepted.
• In the case of failure or is not possible to access the application link, please put all peronal information, CV, and photos required and the 2 projects, in one PDF file and send it to the symposium email address bagdadss@gmail.com
• Submission deadline is September 20, at 23 p.m.
• All necessary correspondence should be directed to the email above mentioned.

Schedule

• 25 August 2024: Open call
• 20 September 2024: deadline fo application
• 28 september 2024: Announcement of the selected projects
• 30 September 2024: Final confirmation and marble dimensions
• 14 January 2025: Artists arrival in Baghdad
• 15 January 2025: Opening Ceremony and commencement of work
• 12 February 2025: Gala and closing ceremony
• 19 February 2025: Departure from Iraq

For further information: bagdadss@gmail.com