A group exhibition at Project 88, Mumbai
THEME: TREES
CURATED BY PRAJNA DESAI
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 18 MARCH, 2026
Project 88 invites your submissions for Never was a shade, a group exhibition that combines moving image, sonic works, and 2D visual works, exploring trees, their arboreal power, and their being at large in the world. The exhibition runs from 14 May, 2026 to 18 July, 2026.
This exhibition is about trees and their power emerging not through their environmental virtues, but as existing regardless of whether or not we, people, were in the picture. No doubt trees' ecological superpowers are in play wherever trees are. We do selfishly prize trees for cleaner and cooler air, preventing soil erosion and floods, and sequestering carbon, qualities indispensable to our fate on earth. But the tyranny of function distances us from trees' essential and truly original qualities: their tree-ishness. It is this—achieved by evolutionary twists and hazards—that has been shaping earth uniquely and phenomenally and, by that turn, its beauty and stupefying variety. New research is even inclined to argue that their environmental benefits which many view as central to trees are in fact side effects of their existential process.
Rooted but far from passive, trees have cultivated in us an aesthetic sense, or a feel for beauty, attuning us to their own extraordinariness as entities in themselves—rather than instruments of our survival—an appreciation that inclines us to cherish them. As a prominent tree scientist behind this hypothesis puts it, "The greatest wisdom is understanding that appreciation and conservation are two sides of the same coin." That trees by their tree-ishness act upon and enlighten us. That environmentalism might never have been without their inherent art. As for the exhibition title, it takes after the opening aria (song) from George Frideric Handel's 1738 opera Serse (Xerxes). Enraptured by the magnificence and peace of a plane tree since first encountering it, the war mongering king, Serse, declares his love like this: "Never was a shade of any plant dearer and more lovely, or more sweet."
We are seeking work charged by these ideas in any of the following categories: moving image, sonic works, and 2D works, including paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, book art works. Sadly, we are unable to accommodate 3D works.
EXPERIMENTAL SONIC WORK /MOVING IMAGE: GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS
Only finished work, under 15 minutes. Selected works will be single channel only, displayed on a screen and/or projected. A total of 2 works are required per submission. As a general rule for all accepted submissions, the number of works included in the exhibition will be at the discretion of the curator and the gallery.
*Before clicking on the Submit link, please ensure you have all necessary material including:
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Labelled files as follows: Last name First Name _ Title _ Medium _ Size in inches _ Date (if you have just one name, please list just that)
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Captions taking the following format: Last name First Name _ Title _ Medium _ Duration _ Date (if you have just one name, please list just that)
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A brief note about the submission, up to 150 words, in English, Hindi, or Marathi
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A brief biographical note up to 150 words. Include information you believe will best help us encounter your submission and your practice as it relates to the work, including training and/or exhibition history if any. English, Hindi, or Marathi.
2D WORK: GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS
Only original, finished works that are ready to hang or be displayed, or that can be shown in a digital format, will be accepted. Unframed works can be up to 30 inches x 30 inches. Paintings or 2D multimedia work on a flat substrate may be larger than 30 inches x 30 inches.
Primarily 3D sculpture cannot be accommodated within the exhibition. However, we are able to consider work that has sculptural elements but is essentially 2D in orientation. A total of 5 artworks are required per submission.
*Before clicking on the Submit link, please ensure you have all necessary material including:
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Labelled files as follows: Last name First Name _ Title _ Medium _ Size in inches _ Date (if you have just one name, please list just that)
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A brief note about the submission, up to 150 words, in English, Hindi, or Marathi
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One brief biographical note up to 150 words. Include information you believe will best help us encounter your submission and your practice as it relates to the work, including training and/or exhibition history if any. English, Hindi, or Marathi.
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SONIC WORK/ MOVING IMAGE + 2D WORK: GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS
Only original, finished works that are ready to hang or be displayed, or that can be shown in a digital format will be accepted. Unframed 2D works can be up to 30 inches x 30 inches. Paintings or 2D multimedia work on a flat substrate may be larger than 30 inches x 30 inches. Primarily 3D sculpture cannot be accommodated within the exhibition. However, we are able to consider work that has sculptural elements but is essentially 2D in orientation.
Sonic works and moving images must be under 15 minutes. Selected works will be single channel only, displayed on a screen and/or projected.
A total of 4 artworks per submission are required.
PLEASE NOTE APPLICANTS MUST CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING COMBINATIONS :
• one sonic work + one moving image + two 2D
• two sonic works + two 2D
• two moving image + two 2D
*Before clicking on the Submit link, please ensure you have all necessary material including:
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Labelled files as follows: Last name First Name _ Title _ Medium _ Size in inches _ Date (if you have just one name, please list just that)
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A brief note about the submission, up to 150 words, in English, Hindi, or Marathi
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One brief biographical note up to 150 words. Include information you believe will best help us encounter your submission and your practice as it relates to the work, including training and/or exhibition history if any. English, Hindi, or Marathi.
ELIGIBILITY
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Applicants must be 21 years or older.
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Foreign applicants may apply if they have been full-time residents of India for at least 5 years.
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Works requiring transport must be located within India.
DATES TO KEEP IN MIND
Applications Due: 18 March, 2026 by 11:59 pm
Selected Artists Notified: 30 March, 2026
*Physical artwork delivery to the gallery: No later than 30 April, 2026
Digital artwork: selected participants will be informed of this date
*Artwork Installation: 5 to 9 May, 2026
Never was a shade opening: 14 May to 18 July, 2026
*Exhibition Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 7pm
*Deinstallation: 21 July, 2026
*These dates are subject to minor change
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
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Work that discriminates and/or plagiarizes will be disqualified.
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AI derived submissions are not welcome. No exceptions.
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Submissions will be reviewed by the curator Prajna Desai and selected applicants will be invited to enter into an independent contractor agreement with Project 88, Mumbai.
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Submission of works to this open call does not guarantee selection or any form of compensation.
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Selections are made at the sole discretion of the curator and Project 88.
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This open call for applications is not a contest, sweepstakes, or offer of employment.
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Applicants acknowledge that by submitting an application, they are applying to be considered for a potential contract opportunity only.
ANSWERS TO FAQs
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Regrettably, we will not be able to update you as regards the status of your application or respond to questions about the same. Only accepted applicants will be contacted by the notification date.
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If we have questions, we will email you during the waiting period.
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During the waiting period after submission, we will not be able to respond to emails regarding your submission.
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If you do not hear from us by 30 March, 2026, please assume that we are unable to include your submission.
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Artists who reside within Mumbai or happen to be visiting the city during installation and wish to be present for the process are welcome.
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All works will be returned at the end of the 6 month consignment period. The gallery will be responsible for transportation costs.
Project 88 reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel this open call for applications at any time, for any reason, without notice.
Links to submit:
2D works submission form
Sonic work/Moving image submission form
Sonic work/Moving image + 2D works submission form