Rhizomatic Echoes Application Guidelines
Rhizomatic Echoes Open Call
If Trees Could Talk – Rhizomatic Echoes Edition, independently organized by SUAVEART
Rhizomatic Echoes, a satellite exhibition of the If Trees Could Talk Biennale, is now open for submissions in visual and performance art, inviting you to co-create an interspecies, interdependent forest of thought in Shanghai.
International artists are warmly invited to apply. Please review the Rhizomatic Echoes Application Guidelines before beginning your application and submitting your proposal.
(For the Chinese version, please continue reading below.)
Open Call: March 1 – April 5 , 2026 (23:59 PM, GMT+8)
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BACKGROUND:
In February 2024, the Philippines-based Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development (CANVAS), together with the Tumba-Tumba Children’s Museum of Philippine Art (Tumba-Tumba), launched the inaugural “If Trees Could Talk” International Art Biennale. This cross-cultural exhibition initiative aims to spark dialogue around environmental issues and to act as a catalyst for social transformation in an era shaped by the climate crisis. The biennale offers an opportunity for individuals, communities, and organizations to reconsider their place within the shared existence between humans and the natural world, and to reflect on how we might stand in solidarity with the trees, mountains, and rivers that sustain life and livelihoods — responding to present and future ecological challenges through unity and harmony.
Looking ahead to 2026, If Trees Could Talk will expand its invitation beyond the host city, encouraging institutions, artists, and sites worldwide to participate in dialogues that transcend roots and borders, cultivating a global forest of ideas—where every “tree” becomes a voice, and every site a living testimony to the shared narratives of nature and humanity (see more: https://www.iftreescouldtalk.art).
OVERVIEW:
Channeling these subterranean resonances, a local dialogue takes root in the soil of Shanghai. Rhizomatic Echoes (林音・根韵), a satellite exhibition independently organized by SUAVEART and curated by Yipei Lee and Jill Zheng, resists positioning humans at the center of the world. Instead, it shifts perspective toward relationalities that unfold beyond the human.
An echo is not mere repetition. It is an active resonance and response. It is the acoustic evidence of entanglement. This notion is grounded in the “rhizomatic”: a term that bridges the biological intelligence of root systems with the philosophical networks articulated by Gilles Deleuze and later expanded through Timothy Morton’s concept of the “mesh”. At its core, the project asks how knowledge is constructed, how modes of production are transformed, and how perception expands when trees are understood not as passive scenery but as complex living beings—entities that exercise agency and navigate their own umwelt through the affordances of their environments.
Through years of artistic practices and research at SUAVEART, we have gradually come to a new stage of inquiry:Is it possible for us to learn to listen to, interpret, and even respond to the signals trees emit? These ongoing quests form the very foundation of this satellite exhibition and its public programs.
We sincerely invite artists and interdisciplinary practitioners to explore new forms of communication and ecological connections beyond an anthropocentric perspective, and open up space for imagination concerning coexistence, perception, and the future.
SUBMISSION:
・Performance Art
・Visual Art
(All information submitted on the application form, C.V. and support materials must be in English or Chinese)
🔹 Visual Art
| Form | This open call welcomes a wide range of visual art practices, including but not limited to painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture, installation, digital art, and mixed media. Artists may interpret the theme through figurative, abstract, experimental, or conceptual approaches, expressing their individual artistic language. |
| Eligibility | The exhibition is open to artists of all nationalities. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Applicants may apply individually or as a collective. |
| Application Materials | ・Name of Applicant & Contact Information ・Artist Bio: A brief biography (maximum 300 words). ・Artist Statement and C.V. (PDF or Word format): Upload your most recent CV in Word or PDF format, including date and place of birth, and citizenship. File name format: Last Name_First Name.doc/pdf. If applying as collaborators, all partners’ information and CVs must be included. ・Work Description List: Provide technical and contextual information for each submitted work. Each uploaded image or video link must be accompanied by a description including: Title, Year, Medium, and Dimensions. ・Work Portfolio (Maximum 3 works or one series): Artists may upload up to three completed works (or one series) in the form of images, text, audio, or video. Video links (personal website, Vimeo, YouTube, etc.) are also accepted. – Images must be in JPEG format, no larger than 1000 × 1000 pixels at 150 dpi. – File name format: Artist Name_Artwork 1.jpg, Artist Name_Artwork 2.jpg, etc. ・Social Media (optional): Artists may share links to platforms such as Instagram, Xiaohongshu (RED), WeChat Official Account, LinkedIn, Substack, or others. |
🔹 Performance Art
| Format | Submissions may include, but are not limited to, live performance art, interdisciplinary works combining body, sound, or installation, ecological body practices, ritual-based actions, and other experimental forms. Performances should resonate with the exhibition theme ‘Rhizomatic Echoes‘, exploring relationships between humans and nature, root-like connections, and listening to non-human voices. The suggested duration is 10–20 minutes (flexible depending on site and technical conditions) to allow audiences to fully engage with the rhythm and poetic arc of the work. Applicants may submit up to 2 works, either: ・Documentation of previously performed solo or collaborative works (video, photos, and written description required), or ・A new proposal including concept description, performance structure outline, technical/spatial requirements, and estimated duration. We encourage interdisciplinary and experimental proposals, particularly those incorporating local ecological memory, bodily experience, sound collection, or plant/soil materials. |
| Eligibility | This open call prioritizes artists currently based in Shanghai and the neighboring areas, while remaining open to international applicants. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age and may apply either individually or as a collective. |
| Application Materials | ・Name of Applicant & Contact Information ・Artist Bio: A brief biography (maximum 300 words). ・Artist Statement and C.V. (PDF or Word format): Upload your most recent CV in Word or PDF format, including date and place of birth, and citizenship. File name format: Last Name_First Name.doc/pdf. If applying as collaborators, all partners’ information and CVs must be included. ・Performance Outline or Proposal (Maximum 2 works) Applicants should compile their past performance or performance proposal—including the conceptual outline and supporting imagery—into a single document in Word or PDF format. For time-based works or documentation, please provide accessible video links (e.g., personal website, Vimeo, or YouTube). File name format: Artist Name_Artwork 1.jpg, Artist Name_Artwork 2.jpg, etc. ・Social Media (optional): Artists may share links to platforms such as Instagram, Xiaohongshu (RED), WeChat Official Account, LinkedIn, Substack, or others. |
| Independent Execution and Support | Prior to the exhibition period, selected artists will be invited in May for site visits and rehearsals. The curatorial team will provide venue coordination and basic administrative support. Due to the experimental nature of this satellite exhibition, technical realization will primarily be artist-led (including bringing specialized equipment, installation, and restoration). We recognize that each performance represents a generous offering of the artist’s energy and time. Selected artists or groups will receive a performance compensation in acknowledgment of professional labor and artistic value. |
*Possibilities of Connection: We warmly invite those willing to cross geographic boundaries and explore embodied resonance to join us. If you have concerns or require assistance connecting with local non-commercial accommodation resources, please indicate this in your proposal. We will do our best to provide informational support and connections.
KEY SCHEDULE:
- Open Call: March 1 – April 5 , 2026 (23:59 PM, GMT+8)
- Result: Mid-April, 2026
- Review by Venue, End of April, 2026
- Site Visit: End of May, 2026
- Exhibition Period: June 6 – July 12, 2026
ENVIRONMENT & VENUE:
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants must apply using this online application form. Please review the application requirements listed below before beginning your application.
Note that there are two separate applications for Visual artists and Performance artists.
It is advised that all applicants create a log-in to be able to partially complete the form and return to finish it at a later date but before the deadline. Before submitting your application, you will be directed to a confirmation page where you will be able to review your form and return to edit or delete your uploaded files as needed. The content can not be edited after submission. Applicants will receive a confirmation email once the application form has been successfully submitted.
Incomplete application forms, as well as forms not accompanied by the application fee, will not be processed.
APPLICATION FEE:
During the development of Rhizomatic Echoes, we have consistently upheld an independent and non-commercial curatorial position. To ensure the rigor of the review process and sustain the continuity of the exhibition, an application fee of ¥20.00 (CNY) will be charged per applicant. This contribution will be used directly for:
- Administration Fee — Compensation for Review Labor
Supporting the essential costs of the review process, including application organization, expert evaluation, and administrative coordination. This fee recognizes and respects the often-invisible labor behind the selection process. - Self-funding — Supporting Independent Growth
As a curator-initiated, self-funded, and non-profit satellite project, our resources are extremely limited. This modest act of collective support becomes vital nourishment for safeguarding this “forest of ideas,” enabling the exhibition to take root and materialize organically.
Payment methods: A non-refundable application fee of ¥20.00 (CNY) is required with each application. You can pay through Stripe, or add our wechat assistant【m_never-say-never】to proceed the communication and payment.
PLEASE NOTE
Applications that include images or documents not labeled or uploaded in accordance with the guidelines above will not be reviewed. As the exhibition venue is located in Shanghai, materials from successfully selected applicants will be submitted to the venue for final review. The organizer and the venue jointly reserve the right of final interpretation regarding this open call and exhibition opportunity.
NON-DISCRIMINATION
The program actively encourages and welcomes participation from artists of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, marital status, or national origin in our admission policies.
SELECTION
Eligible applications will be evaluated based on artistic merit, the strength and relevance of the proposed project, and the applicant’s potential for professional development through engagement with the SUAVEART community and its programs.
NOTIFICATION
Application results will be communicated via email. Please ensure that the email address provided in your application is one you check regularly. After receiving an acceptance notification, applicants may request an official Letter of Acceptance for the purposes of securing additional funding or visa applications.
FAQ
Q1｜Why do applicants need to pay an application fee?
This is a public welfare biennale initiated by the Tumba-Tumba Children’s Museum of Philippine Art. Participation is community-based and self-organized, so all costs—including installation, transport, and production—are covered by participants. The application fee supports essential administrative and coordination work to keep the project running smoothly.
Q2｜Can an applicant apply for both Visual art and Performance art？
Sure. Please note that you will need to pay the application fee twice.
Q3｜What can I benefit from being part of this exhibition?
Participation in If Trees Could Talk – Rhizomatic Echoes Edition, independently organized by SUAVEART, is not only an opportunity to present your work, but also a process of deep exchange centered on ecological perception, interspecies relationships, and contemporary artistic practice. As a satellite exhibition within an international biennial framework, this project connects global artistic networks while remaining grounded in a specific local context. Selected artists will have the opportunity to:
- Present their work within an international curatorial context and engage in dialogue with artists from diverse cultural backgrounds.
- Participate in research-oriented exchanges focused on ecology, embodied perception, and interdisciplinary practices.
- Join a long-term collaborative network composed of curators, researchers, and artistic practitioners.
- Explore experimental possibilities within an independent curatorial environment
We place particular value on the exchange of ideas and the relationships that emerge throughout the process, rather than on the exhibition outcome alone.
Q4｜What kind of expenses do I need to cover for myself?
Production costs, transportation/shipping expenses, and travel expenses for artists.
Q5｜When will the results be announced?
The third week of April.
Q6｜If the applicant needs funding support, what suggestions and assistance can be provided?
As this project is an independently initiated, non-profit satellite exhibition, our current funding is primarily allocated to exhibition implementation and partial support for artistic production. At this stage, we are unable to provide full international travel or production subsidies for all selected artists. However, we understand that artistic practice is often shaped by real-world resource limitations, and we are therefore able to offer the following support and suggestions:
- Provide an official invitation letter or acceptance confirmation from the curatorial team to support applications for personal grants, cultural funding, or travel subsidies.
- Share information about potential art funds, cultural exchange programs, or residency opportunities based on the applicant’s location (when available).
- Assist in connecting artists with local non-commercial accommodation or collaborative resource networks, where feasible.
- Discuss low-cost and sustainable approaches to realizing the artwork with the artist.
We encourage artists to view participation in this project as the beginning of a long-term collaborative relationship, rather than a single, standalone opportunity.
For the full rolling application schedule and notification timelines, please visit our Guideline and SUAVEART website. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us at itssuaveart@gmail.com.
細着藝術 SUAVEART 