OPEN CALL – Fly to Baku Art Weekend x VarYox

Description
Baku is a city of fountains, of public spaces anchored by water that hold the stories of people and communities across time. Water is a metaphor for the movement, change, and growth of Baku – a dynamic record of the city and its people, an expression of its flow. Artists are invited to propose artworks for VarYox’s participation in the “Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW” project (October 31–November 2) and accompanying exhibition, running through the end of November 2025.

Artwork Commission Brief
Artists are invited to choose one (1) fountain from the list below as a focal point to tell a specific story of that place from a personal or communal perspective, through both a public and an exhibition artwork.

Fountains:

1. Balls Fountain
2. Fountains Square Main Fountain
3. Philharmonic Garden Fountain
4. Swans Fountain
5. Bahram Gur Fountain
6. White Lilies Fountain
7. Zodiac Fountain

Artwork concepts should explore how water, through its use in fountains within public space, has shaped the identity of the city and its communities, including:

• The changing urban landscape
• The role of public space over time
• Environmental sustainability and green spaces
• The ways in which different generations and genders experience public space

Artists are also asked to reflect on how these spaces can shape new perceptions, visions, and speculative futures for Baku. The artworks should engage with the theme on all scales – from the monumental to the intimate.

Artwork Specifications
The artwork proposal should include two (2) parts:

1. Temporary installation or performance with a public activation integrated into the artwork. This may be performative, inviting the public to interact with the work, or documentary, where stories and ideas are collected as part of the artwork.
2. Exhibition artwork to be shown in the gallery during the art weekend. This could include paintings, sketches, parts of the installation, or other sensory items that evoke the artwork – whether sculptural, audio-based, or digital.

The public activation will be documented via video, audio, and/or photography by the VarYox team prior to the launch of the art weekend. This documentation will be exhibited alongside the gallery version of the artwork.

Artwork Proposal Submission Deadline: September 15

Prior to Art Weekend (Oct 17–30): In the two weeks leading up to the launch on October 31, each artist will present one public activation at their fountain to share their artwork with the public. These activations will be announced via social media, and interested visitors and passersby can attend.

Opening Event (October 31): Artists will participate in a panel discussion moderated by a curator on the conception and outcomes of their projects, and how these contribute to Baku’s ongoing narrative. A reception will follow at the gallery, where the public can meet the artists and view the exhibition.

Exhibition Venue: Baku Photography House, Icheri Sheher

Proposal Requirements

Artist bio and contact details

Artwork concept statement

Artwork description in two parts (public activation + exhibition artwork)

Commission budget (to include both the public activation and the exhibition artwork)