About the Open Call

Never was a shade is a group exhibition focusing on the power of trees as entities in themselves, regardless of human environmental utility. Curated by Prajna Desai, the exhibition takes its title from Handel's opera Serse. The call seeks finished works in moving image (single channel), sonic works, and 2D visual works (paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, and book art). The gallery specifically cannot accommodate 3D sculpture. Works must be original and ready for display or digital projection.

What is Offered

Selected artists will be included in a group exhibition at Project 88, Mumbai, from May 14 to July 18, 2026. The gallery will cover transportation costs for the return of works at the end of the consignment period.

Requirements

Applicants must be 21 years or older. Foreign applicants must have been full-time residents of India for at least 5 years. Works requiring transport must be located within India. AI-derived submissions are not allowed. Only finished works (under 15 minutes for time-based media) are eligible.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit via category-specific Google Forms links provided on the Project 88 website: separate forms for 2D works, Sonic/Moving image, or a combination of both. Submissions must include labeled files, captions, a brief note about the submission (150 words), and a biographical note (150 words) in English, Hindi, or Marathi.