Gallary

Open Call: "Withering • Abundance"

"Withering • Abundance" Global Healing Arts Contest and Exhibition

General Curator: Ananda Zhao
General Consultant: Zongde Deng
Curator:Livin Liu

General Secretary :James Tian

Judging Panel

Lily Baylon Escritora(Spain), Lidia Chiarelli（Italy), Lucilla Trapazzo（Italy/Switzerland), Maki Starfield (Japan), Pозалия Александрова（ Bulgaria), Rika Inami (Japan), Sabrina De Canio（Italy), Tobias Burghardt（Germany), Fahredin Shehu（Kosovo), Xiao Suhong( China)
Sponsor
International Arts Education & Therapy Development Academic Association（IAETDAA）

Preview

Autumn is the season when all things shed their splendor and turn inward.

"Withering" — not an ending, but a transformation. When leaves return to their roots, when fruits fall to the ground, when the earth wraps itself in rust-colored silence — nothing truly perishes, but instead gestates new life in stillness. This is a practice of "letting go": letting go of abundance, letting go of speed, letting go of burdens that no longer serve life.

"Abundance" — not an external accumulation, but an inner replenishment. When external noise settles, life returns to its essence, and true abundance begins to show itself: the strength of roots extending in darkness, the patience of seeds waiting in soil, the true self that remains after all else has fallen away.

Withering • Abundance invites artists to use autumn as a mirror, exploring the dialectic of decay and renewal, letting go and replenishment. We seek works that respond to the collective anxieties of our time — in an era of rapid consumption, how do we embrace lows, conserve energy, and arrive at true "abundance" through "withering"?

Find rhythm in decay, wait for flight within sedimentation.

Part I: Theme Interpretation—What Does "Withering • Abundance" Mean?

Autumn is the season when all things shed their splendor and turn inward.

This is precisely our situation — not only nature's autumn, but the autumn of our inner world.

🍂 What is "Withering"?

Autumn — when splendor fades and there is nowhere to hide.

“Withering” captures three layers of contemporary loss:

· The fading of Prosperity: Slowing growth, dissolving illusions, the unavoidable lesson of "less"

· Expectation Withering: Unfulfilled plans, a blurred future, learning to hold oneself in uncertainty

· Relational Withering: Deepening distance, broken ties, relearning how to draw close in isolation

"Withering" is a forced deceleration, an inescapable settling.

The purpose of art is this: when flourishing is not possible, we still choose to live deeply.

🌱 What is "Abundance"?

When external gain is not an option, we choose to turn inward.

Trees never resist withering. They release their leaves and draw their greatest energy back into their hidden roots.

"Abundance" is a gentle ritual of turning inward:

· From external pursuit to inner accumulation: Gathering scattered attention, grounding in one's own soil

· From grasping everything to clearing space: Allowing what truly matters to surface through letting go

· From proving through noise to growing in silence: Trusting one's own expansion even when unseen

"Withering · Abundance" is not a lament about decay.

It is a mirror that reflects what is real — and a profound power of transformation.

See abundance in withering. Arrive at wholeness after letting go.

Part II: Submission Guidelines

1. Eligibility

Open to artists, creators, and collectives worldwide. There are no restrictions based on age, nationality, or professional background.

2. Theme & Accepted Formats

Original artworks closely aligned with the theme "Withering • Abundance" . All media and forms of expression are welcome, with a special encouragement for diverse formats, including but not limited to:

· Visual Arts: Painting, sculpture, photography, installation, digital art, etc.

· Time-Based Arts: Video, animation, documentation of performance art, etc.

· Performing & Auditory Arts: Theater, dance, music (instrumental, vocal, sound installation, etc.).

· Literary Arts: Poetry, short stories, creative texts, and other written works.

· Interdisciplinary & Social Practice: Socially engaged projects, bio-art, textile art, etc.

3. Submission Requirements

Please compile all materials into a ZIP/RAR folder named [Your Name + Submission for ‘Withering • Abundance’] and send it to the official email: iaetdaa@gmail.com.

The folder must contain:

· Work Files (Choose as applicable):

· Static/Visual Works: Provide high-resolution images (1-5 images, each ≥2MB). Naming format: Your Name《Work Title》Material Dimensions Year.jpg (e.g., Feizi《Rebirth》Oil on Canvas 60×80cm 2026.jpg).

· Video/Performance Documentation: Provide MP4 video (≤5 mins, ≤500MB). Use the same naming format.

· Music Works: Provide audio file (WAV or MP3). Naming format: Your Name《Work Title》Year.mp3.

· Theater/Dance Works: Provide MP4 video of full performance or excerpt (≤15 mins, ≤1GB). Use the same naming format.

· Literary Works: Provide PDF or Word document. Naming format: Your Name《Work Title》Year.pdf/.docx.

· Other Formats: Provide images, videos, or documents that clearly document the work's essence and core concept.

· Text Materials (Compiled into a single Word document):

1. Artist Bio: Include name, gender, contact details (phone, WeChat, email), and a personal portrait photo (landscape 16:9 ratio).

2. Work Information Table: List each work's title, type, material/format, duration/word count, and year of creation.

3. Artist Statement (300-500 words): Explain the work's connection to the theme and its healing philosophy.

4. Fee Structure

We firmly believe every healing creation deserves serious consideration. To ensure professional organization, rigorous evaluation by an international jury, global platform presentation, and comprehensive post-exhibition support for selected artists, an entry and processing fee of $56 will be required for final shortlisted works.

This fee is dedicated to:

· Professional Jury: Compensating international jury experts to ensure a fair and professional selection process.

· Global Exhibition Platform: Supporting the construction and maintenance of the online virtual exhibition hall.

· Artist Empowerment: Covering costs for certificates, media promotion, and systematic support for future project recommendations for award-winning and shortlisted artists.

We commit to full transparency in all financial matters. While art's value is beyond monetary measure, we aim through this professional investment to ensure your work receives the respect, presentation, and opportunities it merits.

5. Key Dates

· Submissions Open: August 6th 2026

· Submission Deadline: Sep 15, 2026, 24:00 (Beijing Time)

· Judging & Results Announcement: Sep 15 – Sep 25, 2026

· Exhibition Launch: Sep 30, 2026

Part III: Awards, Judging & Benefits

1. Awards

The competition will confer Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards, along with Outstanding Shortlist Awards. All awardees and shortlisted artists will receive an official IAETDAA digital participation certificate.

2. Judging Criteria

An international jury will conduct anonymous evaluation based on:

· Thematic Depth & Conceptual Innovation (30%)

· Artistic Expression & Media Exploration (25%)

· Healing Potential & Emotional Resonance (30%)

· Work Completion & Statement Clarity (15%)

3. Artist Benefits

Shortlisted and award-winning artists will be eligible for:

· Global Platform: Their work will be featured in the official IAETDAA online virtual exhibition hall.

· Path to the Premier Award: Outstanding creators will be directly shortlisted for the final review of the association’s highest annual honor—the “Gold Nurture Award.”

· Academic & Career Promotion: Opportunity for inclusion in the IAETDAA Excellent Healing Artists Talent Pool, with access to global project recommendations, personal interviews, academic forums, and media exposure.

· Ongoing Support: Potential invitations to participate in subsequent IAETDAA offline exhibitions, domestic and international workshops, large-scale public projects, and thematic research.

Part IV: Declaration & Authorization

1. Submitters guarantee the originality of their work. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited. Submitters bear full responsibility for any copyright disputes; the organizer assumes no liability.

2. The organizer reserves the right to use submitted materials for non-commercial purposes related to the promotion, publication, and research of this competition and exhibition.

3. The International Arts Education & Therapy Development Academic Association (IAETDAA) holds final interpretation rights for this event.

Autumn teaches us one thing: withering is not an end, but the beginning of another kind of abundance.

Do not aviod lows. Do not betray sedimentation.