This exhibition seeks to discover and explore how substances from the natural world – in particular plants – but also animals, gases, chemicals and minerals – have been used in, inspired or informed the medical sciences. We are especially interested in substances and properties which are both potentially lethal and/or life-giving and the fine boundary between the potential to ‘Kill’ and/or ‘Cure’, depending on applications, dose and usage. Through your artwork we hope to stimulate discussion and debate and explore the fascinating relationship between art, modern medicine and the natural world.
We are looking for diverse artistic responses across media, styles and aesthetic approach from both emerging and established artists. The exhibition will showcase artwork from leading national and international artists and provide an opportunity to exhibit work by emerging artists, academic and students from different fields, in a broad and inclusive dialogue between art and science.
The exhibition will run May to September 2022 as part of the Wolfson College Fine Arts Exhibition Programme.
How to Submit:
All work must be submitted online in the first instance. Please submit a maximum of three artworks per artist to artsubmissions@wolfson.cam.ac.uk
Please clearly state the following in an accompanying email.
Name of Artist (As you would like it to appear in the exhibition information/programme)
Title of Work
Medium of work
Dimensions
Description or further information about the work (max 300 words) and how the artwork fits the exhibition theme.
Corresponding email and contact telephone number
Please specify if work for sale and desired price (+30% commission with all proceeds going towards supporting College Fine Arts Activities).
A digital image of the work must be included
- Pre-selection from online entries will take place in the first instance. By submitting the work you agree to the Terms of Conditions.
- Deadline for the submission of application and digital image of works by 20th April 2022. [Images must be in JPEG format and under 5MB.]
- You will be notified by email if your work has been selected for exhibition.
- If selected for exhibition, please deliver your work on Friday 29th April or Saturday 30th April between 10 and 7pm to Wolfson College, Barton Road, Cambridge, CB39BB, United Kingdom
- Work should be available for exhibition until Sept 15th 2022 and if unsold, collected on that date the following two days.
Key Dates:
Monday 21st February: Online Submission opens
Wednesday 20 April: Deadline for submission of works online for pre-selection
25 / 26th April: Notification of Selection
29th / 30th April: Receiving Day (if selected) work should be delivered to Wolfson College Porters Lodge between 10am and 7pm
Saturday 14th May: Opening and Private View at Wolfson College (by invitation only)
Sunday 15th May: Exhibition Opens to the Public
Works must be available for Exhibition until 15th September
15/16/17 September 2022: Collection of unsold work
Conditions
Eligibility & Criteria:
• Submission of 1- 3 works per person.
• Acceptable media for 2-dimensional includes all painting and drawing, pastels etc, original prints, photography, mixed-media and 3-dimensional works which can be wall–hung. [Please Note that facilities for digital, video or performance art is currently unfortunately not available.]
• 2-dimensional works must not exceed 150cm / 150 cm or be smaller inclusive of frames. Total weight must not exceed 15 kg.
• We invite sculptural works of no more than 60 x 60 x 60cm. Please contact the organisers if in doubt.
• All works must be submitted ready for display - framed or available for display unframed. College cannot take responsibility for damage to any works which are displayed unframed and we strongly encourage framing of works.
• Work must have been completed recently and be original to the artist. The artist must have copy-right over the work and it represent original intellectual property.
• All work submitted must conform to all health and safety standards and regulations, may not contain human or animal tissue, noxious or toxic substances, dangerous electrics or in any way be otherwise considered inconsistent with safe exhibition and art handling.
• Please be mindful that all images will be displayed in a cultural diverse and inclusive space and we reserved the right to not accept any works which we may deem inappropriate or take down works which cause offence.
Delivery & Collection:
• Initial submissions will be in the ONLINE first instance for pre-selection, artists will need to ship their work if selected for the exhibition.
• Artists sending work from abroad should use a picture carrier or arrange for professional postage or delivery. We do not accept any liability for postage or couriers.
• All artworks including paintings should be completely dry and deemed complete at the time of submission and delivery.
• We are unable to wrap works or provide wrapping materials for any works upon return, they should be collected following the exhibition.
• At the end of the exhibition, works must be collected on the specified collection date/s or they may be removed by the College.
Selection:
• The Selection Committee is formed of Fellows of Wolfson College, Dr. Anna M. Dempster (Curator), Graham Allen (Vice President and Chair of Fine Arts Committee), Prof. Jane Clarke (President of Wolfson College), and Karina El Helou (Director & Curator, StudioCur/Art) with consultation from art and science experts. The make-up of the committee may change. Please note that selectors' decisions are final and we are unable to offer specific feedback.
About Wolfson College and the exhibition:
Wolfson College, Cambridge, is renowned for its academic excellence as an international and inclusive community of scholarship with a vibrant intellectual and cultural life. The College has an established programme of exhibitions and artistic events which take place throughout the year and are framed by its modernist architecture, beautiful landscaped gardens and embedded into academic life. The art on show will be enjoyed by both the academic and wider community. Exhibitions are open to the general public, enjoyed with the students and Fellows and visited by eminent scholars and visitors from around the world. Wolfson has an established art exhibition programme which has showcased the work of both renowned international artists and innovative emerging artists with the aim of stimulating reflection, discussion and debate. This exhibition is curated by Dr. Anna M Dempster, Fellow, Wolfson College.
This exhibition forms a key part of Wolfson Explores: Growth, the annual guiding theme which aims to stimulate rich, productive dialogue across interdisciplinary and cultural borders. Kill or Cure runs alongside many fascinating events, talks and complement the work of the College’s interdisciplinary Research Hubs on Sustainability, Gender and Global Health as well as wider research community.
We are very excited to open the call for Kill or Cure and look forward to receiving your submission!
Any questions contact the organisers on artsubmissions@wolfson.cam.ac.uk or to Dr. Anna Dempster, amd27@cam.ac.uk
