The National Gallery of Kosovo announces the open call for the 17th edition of the Gjon Mili International Exhibition of Photography and Moving Image. Named after the renowned Albanian-American photographer Gjon Mili, this exhibition has been a cornerstone in the development of the medium of photography in the country since its first edition in 2001. Initially an annual exhibition, it was reconceptualized as a biennale in 2012. After a pause due to the pandemic, this exhibition is being revived with a renewed concept and structure. The exhibition will now focus on time-based media, encompassing photographic, filmic, and sonic practices as a way of reflecting the connections between these media and expanding the possibilities of storytelling.
Titled She who starts the song…, this edition, curated by Valentine Umansky from Tate, opens on January 23rd, 2025. The exhibition uses tepsija (a type of shallow pan) to explore inherited gestures from mother to daughter, connecting current generations to the past. It reconsiders photography, moving-images, and sonic practices as vehicles of inter-generational memory. Highlighting an unknown female singer, it examines gendered practices, their traditions, and current subversions.
She who starts the song… will feature a selection of invited artists, alongside those selected via this open call. For the first time, the call will extend to applications from artists based in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia.
The artists selected via the open call will be eligible for the Gjon Mili Award which will be granted by a jury of professionals.
Submission requirements: CV, Artist statement or proposal, Portfolio (max.15 pages)
To submit an application or ask questions about submissions and exhibition details, contact Shkamb Jaka, Media and Communication Coordinator, at info@galeriakombetare-rks.com. A more detailed version of the open call is available on e-flux.
The selected artists will be notified via e-mail by October 27th.
