The exhibition explores the concept of inhabiting as a psychological function, where the self shapes its own inner space in response to an unstable world.

You may submit works of painting, printmaking, photography, digital art, collage, and video art for the exhibition.

Art Curator Paris Kapralos presents the exhibition “The Dwellings of the Self” and invites visual artists to submit their works for participation.

The physical exhibition will take place at Chili Art Gallery in Athens, Greece, while simultaneously being accessible online via our platform for the duration of one month.

Conceptual framework: After the “great confinement” of the “Stay at Home” period during the pandemic, the concept of “home” has become increasingly disconnected from its architectural substance and transformed into a function of our psyche. The boundaries between inside and outside, private and public, personal and collective, are no longer clear. This exhibition does not examine confinement itself, but its psychosocial imprint: the internalisation of the world, the shift in the meaning of inhabiting, and the construction of an inner space.

Drawing from the idea of the “hinterland of the self” as expressed by Paul Valéry, the home re-emerges not as a residence, but as an internal topography of the Self. This inner hinterland of the subject is now structured as a response to an uncertain external reality. The construction of an inner world is not merely a contemplative or poetic process but a survival mechanism. The individual constantly returns to the self as the first, not the last, point of reference. The internalization of the familiar acts both as protection and isolation. The self is organized like a world — an autonomous, self-sufficient, and often impenetrable landscape.

Technological and digital conditions play a pivotal role in shaping this inner space. The self’s home now functions as an interface. Our gaze is mediated, experience is structured through screens, and “inside” and “outside” communicate digitally but not experientially. The individual now inhabits not only a mind but a mental system of information and images that they attempt to organize as an internal world.

The question now is not only where we live, but how we live with ourselves. How does one imagine their inner space? What does a home look like when it exists solely as a psychological experience? What does the self look like when structured as a dwelling? The exhibition invites artists to reflect on the notion of inhabiting beyond physical space — as a psychological, existential, and symbolic process that forever alters our relationship with society, with others, and with the world.

Regarding the subject matter of the works: The works may engage with the subject in any way the creator deems appropriate.

🏆 An audience award will be given to the artist with the most original work.

Who may submit (eligibility): Artists from around the world may submit works for participation, regardless of origin or nationality, provided they are at least 18 years of age.

What you must submit: Please email artistsartgrid@gmail.com with the subject “DWELLINGS” and include the following:

• (1) Photos of up to 2 available works, one image file per artwork, in high-resolution, large-sized jpg format. Note: these are not indicative works. If selected, you may only exhibit the specific work(s) you submitted. Works on paper must be photographed without frame/glass.
• (2) Details for each work, referencing the file name (e.g. A1.JPG), listed in this order, separated by commas: Artist’s full name, Title of the work, Medium and technique, Dimensions (in cm, Height x Width), Year of completion.
• (3) Your contact information: Full name, Email, Phone number.

✨ If you wish to submit Video Art, you may either send standard video files via WeTransfer and a separate email with the rest of the required information, or provide a link (Vimeo, YouTube) where the full video is accessible.

Important notes
– Clarifications, questions, and enquiries strictly related to the submission process must be sent in writing to the above submission email address and will be answered within 24 hours.
– Information about the event’s execution and the proposal to be made (if selected) will only be provided to selected artists, following submission and selection – not beforehand. Submissions missing required elements or failing to follow the instructions will be ignored.
– If you are selected, we will contact you directly via reply email including full details on how to proceed with your participation.
– The submission deadline is not necessarily intended for creating new work; you may choose from existing works that you believe represent you and are relevant to the theme, and that you wish to present as part of the exhibition.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: until Sunday, 23 November 2025 at 23:59.