OVERVIEW

Project 88 invites submissions for Never was a shade, a group exhibition curated by Prajna Desai.

The exhibition considers trees not through their environmental virtue or utilitarian value, but as autonomous entities—existing regardless of human presence. It foregrounds arboreal power as aesthetic, philosophical, and sensorial force. Trees are approached as agents that cultivate perception and shape our sense of beauty through their own “tree-ishness,” rather than as instruments of survival.

The exhibition seeks works that engage with these ideas across moving image, sound, and 2D practices.

ELIGIBLE MEDIA

Submissions are invited in the following categories:

• Moving image
• Sonic works
• 2D works (painting, drawing, printmaking, photography)
• Combination of sonic/moving image and 2D works
• SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must submit:

• 150-word biography
• 150-word description of the submission
• Captions for all works
• Work samples as per category guidelines below

CATEGORY GUIDELINES

1. Sonic Work / Moving Image

• Only finished works under 15 minutes
• Selected works will be single channel only (screen or projection)
• Submit a total of 2 works

2. 2D Works

• Only original, finished works
• Must be ready to hang/display or suitable for digital display
• Unframed works may be up to 30 × 30 inches
• Submit a total of 5 works

3. Combination (Sonic/Moving Image + 2D)

• Submit a mixed set of works
• Total of 4 works per submission

IMPORTANT NOTES

Applicants must carefully read all detailed guidelines on the Project 88 website before submitting.

Exhibition Dates: 14 May – 18 July 2026

Submission Deadline: 18 March 2026