In the western media universe, African conflict stories are theatrical productions.  They follow familiar scripts performed by familiar characters; they outrage us yet never quite seem to make us suspend all disbelief.  Did the Rwandan genocide really happen?  It was on the way to being forgotten until the post-election killings in Kenya jogged our memories.  When did the conflict in the Congo end?  Is it still going on?  For how long?  How much longer?  Conflict fatigue, among other social ailments, disappears the Congo from daily discourse.  Perhaps the problem is not that the situations are unbelievable, but that the characters are; they have degenerated into cartoons.   Key characters in the conflict scripts are overdrawn villains and barely perceptible victims; bloated rulers with oily smiles gazing smugly at ashy, emaciated subjects; ethnocentric demagogues and herds of human sheep who follow them unthinkingly to slaughter, then be slaughtered.  One wonders if this is what life under conflict is all about.  Could it be my life? When represented as a weak, inchoate, silent or uncritical mass, Africa’s citizens living in conflict situations are stripped of their fundamental humanity; the very quality that permits us to empathize with strangers across boundaries of space and race.  What is needed now is clear-eyed insight into the lives of women, men, boys, and girls who find themselves fated to exist in very extraordinary times. Conflicted is a challenge to know the other in a most familiar way.

We invite artists and designers to submit work related to this call.  Entries may include 2-D,3-D, and video works as well as proposals for installation and/ or performance.

(Pease include your name and email address on all materials.)

Paintings, 2D, 3D: 10 images Maximum.  Either labeled slides or digital images are acceptable.  Digital images may be submitted on a CD or by sending an email to a URL which contains ONLY the works to be considered.  Please do not expect us to browse through your website to find all your images.

Performance:  Still images along with a description of the work are acceptable.  No more than 5 still images for each piece.  A single DVD with clips/ footage of work is preferred.  No more than 3 different works should be submitted.  Each clip should not be longer than 5 minutes.  Digital images or clips/ video footage may be submitted via CD or DVD or by sending and email to a URL which contains ONLY the works to be considered.  A clear written proposal outlining intent, duration, and requirements must also be included.

Video/ Sound/ New Media: Either a CD or  DVD with audio files (wav or mp3) video clips/ footage (mov) of work is preferred.  No more than 3 different works should be submitted.  Each clip should not be longer than 5 minutes.  Or by sending and email to a URL which contains ONLY the works to be considered.  A clear written proposal outlining intent, duration, and requirements must also be included.

Installation: 6 Stills (jpegs) and 1 DVD Data clearly labeled with your name and the title/date and duration of the work. It should contain an avi or mov at best possible quality. A clear written proposal outlining intent, duration, and requirements must also be included.

Entries and Inquiries should be sent to conflicted@esorogallery.com

Digital Entries:
Send an email containing CV and work statement as separate attachments.  Also include in the email any relevant URL’s.  Must be received by 5PM.  All entries received after that time will automatically be filtered into a digital recycling bin.

Walk In Submissions:
Must be received by 5PM.  Please include a hard copy of CV and work statement along with supporting materials.

Snail Mail:
Items sent via mail must be postmarked by:  Please notify us via email if you decide to send a physical entry so we know what to expect. Please include a hard copy of CV and work statement along with supporting materials.