INTRODUCTION

UNRULY MIRRORSexplores beauty salons across East and Central Asia as spaces of contradiction—sites where normative ideals are reproduced, but also where intimacy, appropriation, and subtle forms of resistance take shape.

Beauty practices are never neutral. They reflect social norms, economic pressures, and cultural narratives, and are deeply entangled with phenotypical stereotypes, traditional gender roles, and socio-economic structures. They shape not only how we see ourselves, but also our access to participation in society and our sense of agency.

The Goethe-Institutes inAlmaty,Hongkong,Peking,Seoul,Taschkent,TokioandUlaanbaatarask:
What happens when we make these norms visible and subject them to transcultural and feminist critique? How might aesthetic practices be reimagined as forms of self-determination?

Open Call

In summer 2026, we invite artists to submit works or project proposals engaging with these questions.

An international jury will select seven contributions—one from each location. The chosen projects will receive funding and be presented in a shared traveling exhibition starting in spring 2027.

Local curators will accompany each project, facilitating exchange between artists, audiences, and institutions.

Public Program
The exhibition will be accompanied by locally curated programs, including:
Talks & workshops
Film screenings & readings
Performances
Pop-up beauty salons

These formats open up space for alternative narratives and invite active engagement.
Publication & Future Plans
An exhibition catalogue will be developed in collaboration withMissy Magazine,the Berlin-based bimonthly print publication dedicated to pop culture, politics, and feminism. The project will continue in Germany at the end of 2027 in cooperation withGrand Beauty, a Leipzig-based, award-winning transcultural initiative for beauty, diversity, and dialogue that brings together beauty practitioners with and without migration backgrounds.

Who We Are Looking For
We are looking for artists from all disciplines with existing works or new project proposals.

Submissions should engage with the body, beauty, and identity within the tensions between societal expectations and feminist perspectives.

What We Offer
Selection of 7 projects (one per location)
Financial support for project realization
Participation in an international traveling exhibition (2027)
Involvement in the public program (talks, workshops, performances)
International visibility and exchange
Presentation in Germany and in Missy Magazine

Application Materials
Please submit the following documents as a single PDF:
Project description / concept (max. 1–2 pages)
Preliminary budget (including a rough cost breakdown)
Portfolio / work samples
Short biography
Contact details

Selection Process
Selection will be made by an international jury.

Evaluation criteria:
Artistic quality
Thematic relevance
Context sensitivity
Feasibility in terms of transport and exhibition (traveling exhibition)

Timeframe
Open Call: May 15 – July 15, 2026
Selection: July 16 – August 31, 2026
Production: September 1 – December 31, 2026
Exhibition & Program: 2027

Application Notes
Applications must be submitted in English
Collaborative and process-based approaches are welcome
The project places emphasis on diversity and a range of perspectives
Works must be mobile and adaptable to different installation settings
Performances are possible, provided participation across multiple locations can be ensured
The project will be communicated internationally across multiple media platforms

Application & Contact
Please submit your application byJuly 15, 2026to:unrulymirrors@goethe.de

For any questions, please contactunrulymirrors@goethe.deor reach out to the Goethe-Institutes in your area.