LISTart invites professional artists to engage with the theme of “Safety and Freedom” – two central concepts that are gaining increasing importance in current social and political discussions. This dual theme opens up a wide range of artistic interpretations and presents a demanding challenge for addressing these issues in public space. The shop window exhibition calls for artistic reflection on public space as well as interactive engagement with an immediate audience.
The exhibited works will be placed in shop windows of stores and businesses. Artists are free to choose an exhibition site that matches their concept in terms of content. Particular value is placed on installations and artworks that not only address the concepts of safety and freedom but also integrate the specific spatial situation of the shop window into the work. Concepts that stimulate dialogue between artwork, space, and viewer and offer innovative perspectives are especially welcome.
Engagement with the political aspects of freedom and security is a fundamental point. In light of increasing political tensions and debates about state control and individual rights, the question arises as to how much freedom a society can allow without endangering the safety of its members. The question of the right balance between public order and individual rights cannot be addressed solely on a theoretical level in art. Artists are invited to address this conflict visually and conceptually, for example through works that address surveillance and privacy and refer to the current political discourse.
The psychological dimension of freedom and security opens up another area for artistic exploration. The creative process itself can in particular be understood as a balancing act between freedom and security: artists seek a form of inner security that allows them to realize their ideas and visions without fear of failure or rejection. At the same time, art is always situated in the tension between self-realization and personal expression.
Another aspect is the historical context. The struggle for freedom and the restrictions on security imposed by political and social systems have shaped many societies in the past. Artists can draw these historical parallels in order to reflect on current discourse and learn from history. By incorporating symbolism and historical references, art can contribute to a deep, critical engagement with the present.
The theme of ecological freedom and environmental protection is particularly relevant today. With the increase in environmental crises and climate change, human freedom to interact with and shape nature is increasingly constrained by the need for sustainability and environmental protection. Artists have the opportunity through their works to point to the future of freedom in an endangered ecosystem and to emphasize the need to protect it for future generations.
A central aspect of freedom is the space in which we can express ourselves, but also the inner conflict often associated with the pursuit of independence and self-determination. While many artists see freedom as an opportunity for self-realization, others experience the need for security as a necessary foundation for developing their ideas. This balancing act between creative freedom and the desire for security could be illustrated through representations of fragility or vulnerability. An installation that plays with the idea of departure and protection could serve as a vivid example of how these concepts can be negotiated in contemporary art practice.
Each participating artist selects a shop window and, in consultation with the shop owner or resident, develops a concept for presenting the installation at that site. The application is submitted together with the respective shop or shop owner. Individual applications from shops are welcome. While it is theoretically possible for artists to apply without a shop, it cannot be guaranteed due to capacity reasons that a suitable shop will be provided. Therefore, artists are called upon to organize a shop window themselves. Great importance is attached to high-quality applications, so applications that do not fit the theme or quality requirements may be rejected.
The LISTart 2025 art prize is sponsored by Sparkasse and supported by the Cultural Office.
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Subject: Application LISTart
We look forward to discovering your artistic concepts and engaging in a joint discussion with you about freedom and safety in public space. Incomplete or incorrect applications cannot be accepted. The LISTart project is funded by the Cultural Office of Hanover.
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