Each exhibition needs a title. For this Open Call it will be...
HARD WATER, SOFT STONE
You are not required to agree with this sentence. You are not required to illustrate it. You are welcome to misunderstand it, mistranslate it, ignore it completely, or let it quietly resonate somewhere in the background of your practice.
The exhibition will not be pre-shaped around a fixed concept beyond whatever this sentence offers you. Instead, it will take form gradually, through the works that arrive and the relationships that emerge between them. Our aim will be to create a temporary constellation of practices that might not otherwise share a room, through careful curation.
WHO CAN SUBMIT
Submissions are welcome from artists based in Portugal and internationally.
All mediums are accepted: sculpture, painting, sound, video, installation, objects that resist classification. There are no size restrictions, and works can be installed on the floor, walls, or suspended from the ceiling.
If you’re unsure whether something is technically possible in the space, you are encouraged to get in touch and ask. It’s completely fine to have questions at this stage.
Submitted works have to be already produced.
Artists who have exhibited at DUPLEX, did a residency, or engaged with us before in other capacities are also welcome to apply.
DATES
Submission deadline: May 22nd
Results: June 03rd
Delivery deadline: July 03rd
Droop off day (for in person deliveries)*: July 06th (from 10am to 03pm)
Exhibition: July 10th to July 17th
Pick up dates (either in person or by carrier)*: July 22nd/23rd
If these times present difficulties, alternative arrangements can sometimes be discussed in advance.
HOW MANY WORKS YOU CAN SUBMIT
You may submit up to 4 works.
One is enough. Four is also fine. Anything in between is completely welcome.
If selected, you might be asked for additional images or short descriptions to help with promotion and documentation. But we will not ask for any additional fee.
SUBMISSION FEE
The submission fee is 25,00€, which covers the entry of up to 4 works.
The fee is non-refundable.
This contribution is very important to us. DUPLEX is run by one single artist, with occasional help from the artists at our studios, rather than a large institution. The submission fee helps cover the time spent reviewing submissions, corresponding with artists, coordinating and installing, and keeping DUPLEX sustainable so future exhibitions can continue to happen, and above all, allows us to keep our rental studios for local artists under market price.
Payment must be via Wise (to avoid bank fees out of the SEPA convention), by Bank Transfer or MBWay.
> Wise or Bank Transfer use the following IBAN:
IBAN: PT50 0007 0000 0045 6323 50323
Duplex Contemporary
Novo Banco, Lisbon, Portugal
SWIFT: BESCPTPL
> For MbWay (only if you are in Portugal), please ask for the number via e-mail.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOUR WORK IS SELECTED
DUPLEX will provide standard exhibition equipment such as plinths, monitors, and basic installation hardware. If you have any specific technical needs, just let us know in the submission form so we can try to plan accordingly.
If your work is a video or moving image piece, please submit it via a private link (Vimeo, YouTube, etc.) and include the password.
The exhibition will be professionally photographed (exhibition views mostly). The pictures will be shared with you.
A curatorial text will be produced by DUPLEX and sent to you as well.
LIABILITY & CARE
Your work will be handled with the most care and the exhibition will be invigilated. However, DUPLEX cannot assume responsibility for loss or damage. If your work is particularly fragile or valuable, you may wish to arrange your own insurance.
By submitting work, you agree that DUPLEX may photograph and document the exhibition and use images of your work for promotional, archival, and educational purposes in the future.
SALES AND COMISSIONS
Some works in DUPLEX exhibitions are for sale, others are not. Both are equally welcome.
If you would like your work to be available for purchase, DUPLEX retains a 25% commission on any sales made during the exhibition. Please factor this into your pricing, as well as any taxes.
If your work is not for sale, simply include NoSale in the file name or artwork details. No explanation required.
SHIPPING & TRANSPORT
Getting work to Lisbon can be complicated and sometimes expensive, especially from abroad. Unfortunately, DUPLEX is not able to cover the cost of shipping artworks to the exhibition or back to you, so please take this into account when deciding what to submit.
If a work sells during the exhibition, DUPLEX will organize and cover the cost of shipping the work to the buyer.
If the work is not sold, you are expected to send a label to attach to your packed artwork, and schedule a pick up with a transport company or in person.
We will prepare it for transport carefully, and cover the cost of packaging materials.
If a selected artwork becomes unavailable, sells elsewhere before the exhibition, or turns out to be too costly to ship, it may not be possible to substitute for another piece. This is simply due to space planning and installation constraints, but will try our best to still have your work in the exhibition.
IMAGE & FILE REQUIREMENTS
Please name your image files as follows:
First Name Surname - Title, Year, Medium, Dimensions in cm, Price (price in EUR/NoSale).
Example:
Tracey Emin – My Bed 1998 Box frame, mattress, linens, pillows and various objects, 79x211x234cm, NoSale
This may feel overly specific, but it genuinely prevents confusion later on, and will save us and you, a lot of time.
Images must show the exact, completed work you are submitting. Works in progress will not be considered.
Maximum file size per image: 5MB
For video works, please include:
• a private link
• the password
• the title and details of the work
BEFORE APPLYING
It’s strongly recommended that you take a little time to look at past DUPLEX exhibitions before submitting.
You are not expected to tailor your work to match previous exhibitions, but familiarity with the project helps ensure that what you submit aligns with what DUPLEX is able to support.
CONTACT
Questions, uncertainties, or simply wanting to talk something through are all completely welcome:
Our Director is a full time artist, full time runner of errands at DUPLEX and a full time Mom. So, she might not be able to answer you on the same day, or during the weekend…! But she will try her best to be quick and is very thankful for your patience.
