[artinfo] fwd: Call for Artists: The Politics and Pleasures of Food

[Arns HMKV Inke]

Von: "ACC Galerie Weimar, International Studio 
Program" <studioprogram at acc-weimar.de>
Datum: 23. August 2013 09:17:53 MESZ
Betreff: Application for Artists for the 20th 
International Studio Program of the ACC Galerie 
Weimar and the City of Weimar

The ACC Galerie Weimar and the City of Weimar are 
pleased to announce the theme for the 20th 
International Studio Program: "The Politics and 
Pleasures of Food." Artists from around the world 
are invited to apply to live and work in Weimar 
for four month periods starting in February, June 
and October of 2013. Three artists will be chosen 
by a jury of art specialists meeting in early 
October 2013.

Please note that the completed application must 
arrive in Weimar by Friday, October 4, 2013. 
Don't hesitate to call or mail if you have any 
questions.

Participants of recent programs:

2013 "With Criminal Energy - Art and Crime in the 21st Century"
Caitlin Baucom (USA)
Nikolai Nekh (Portugal/Russia)
Nathania Rubin (USA)

2012 "What Happened to God?"
Ana Mendes (Portugal/England)
Shiblee Muneer (Pakistan)
Naufús Ramirez-Figueroa (Guatemala/Canada)

2011 "On Dilettantism"
Jeanette Chavez (Cuba)
Kel Glaister (Australia)
Adam Knight (England)

2010 "Beyond Desire"
Leila Tschopp (Argentina)
Kathrin Schlegel (The Netherlands/Germany)
Christoph Ziegler (Germany)

Thank you in advance for your consideration and best regards,

Frank Motz

Director, International Studio Program
ACC Galerie Weimar
Burgplatz 1+2
D-99423 Weimar
Germany

Gallery: +49 3643 851261
Mobile: +49 179 6674255

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20th International Studio Program of the ACC 
Galerie Weimar and the City of Weimar

THE POLITICS AND PLEASURES OF FOOD

More than anything else, feeding ourselves 
determines our lives. As an unavoidable basic 
need, it confronts us every day with our naked 
existence. However, aside from the basic 
maintenance of our vital functions, food 
contributes decisively to our general well-being. 
Satiation and pleasure have not only a 
physiological, but also a psychological and 
social-societal dimension.

Whether health crazes or eating disorders, fast 
food or fusion cuisine, asceticism or 
stress-eating, social dining or social business, 
take-away or home delivery, from bare necessity 
to pure pleasure to excess - the spectrum is 
limitless: it is about the freedom to design 
one's diet, as well as the internal and external 
compulsions of this basic aspect of existence.

As a part of every human culture (and religion), 
the "politics and pleasures of food" are an 
expression of ideologies and societal relations, 
the level of development or decay of a 
civilization. Their potential as a community 
builder and group event, as well as their 
function in social distinction (the king dines 
differently from the beggar) are part of 
evolution. You are what you eat, and thus what 
and how we feed ourselves not only depends on 
prevailing conditions, but also has an effect on 
them.

In privileged regions, the "mobilization" of food 
from around the world leads to an unprecedented 
range of culinary action. It creates a global 
menu that permits the choice between haute 
cuisine and slow food, veganism and 
vegetarianism, ecological and organic fetishism 
and may be reflected in more deliberate and 
healthier food choices.
In developing and emerging countries in Asia, 
Africa and Latin America, one billion people are 
starving - a seventh of the world population. 
Yearly, 8.8 million people, primarily children, 
die of hunger - one death every 3 seconds. Even 
in the world's top economy, the USA, 10 million 
people go hungry or, as it is officially known, 
have "very low food security".

But the earth does not lack food: it simply does 
not reach those who need it. Global warming, 
climate fluctuations, drought, flood, armed 
conflicts, corruption, poor government, growing 
world population, the bio-fuel boom, changing 
consumption behaviors of the new middle class in 
China and India and the farm subsidy politics of, 
for example, the EU aggravate the situation. In 
the course of the monopolization of resources by 
multinational concerns, the geopolitical tug of 
war for regions with raw material continues. 
Staple foods become commodities; the common 
property of traditional agrarian cultures becomes 
patented private property. The wars of the 21st 
century will be waged over water and rice, corn 
or soy, over fishing rights for the oceans and 
the wheat fields of Africa. But also food safety 
scandals, bio-piracy and genetically modified 
food shatter the idea that "food is just food" as 
we always knew it. How do consumers of the 21st 
century feel and think about what they eat and 
drink?

Artists who would like to deal with the given theme may apply for our program.

--

Please note that the completed application must 
arrive in Weimar by Friday, October 4, 2013. 
Don't hesitate to call or mail if you have any 
questions.