OPEN CALL: M+ Sigg Fellowship for Chinese Art Research 2024/25

The Sigg Fellowship for Chinese Art Research 2024/25 supports new research on Chinese art, in dialogue with the M+ Collections. It corresponds with our commitment to enriching the contemporary conversation on art in the region, and to defining new platforms for research and debate.

The concept of “sites” has always been central to contemporary art practices and discourses. In China, the decade from the early 1990s to 2000s was a period when experimental practices in contemporary art were perceived with skepticism by the official art system and exhibiting channels were not fully influenced by commercial systems. With the expansion of art media and the diversity of curatorial practices, the sites where art was created and viewed, as well as the relationship between art and sites, had become equally essential subjects as art creation. In addition, the emergence of alternative spaces, as well as immaterialized and mobile art spaces, continued to stimulate new artistic concepts and expressions.

The research direction of this edition of the Sigg Fellowship aims to generate a holistic view of the interaction/dialogue between Chinese contemporary art and sites from the 1990s to early 2000s, focusing on areas and cases that have not been fully explored in the current art historical discourses. This includes, but is not limited to, how sites inspire new forms of artistic expression, how changing urban spaces create tensions and new understanding of art creation, and how local and international theories influence site-related artistic and curatorial practices.

We welcome applications from individuals or research groups of all nationalities, with no age requirement. The provision of the fellowship, however, depends on whether the fellow can obtain a visa for Hong Kong. Applicants should either hold a postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline or an undergraduate degree with a minimum of three years of relevant professional work or academic research experience. Proficiency in spoken and written Chinese or English is also required.

The fellowship proposal must be based on new research or be an expansion of earlier research that has not been previously published. Preference is given to entirely new research projects. The fellow must grant M+ exclusive priority to publish the research following the completion of the project.

Shortlisted candidates might be invited to an in-person or remote interview. Results will be announced in early 2025. Members of the Jury are:

–Iftikhar Dadi (John H. Burris Professor in History of Art, Cornell University)
–Russell Storer (Senior Curator and Head of Curatorial Affairs, M+)
–Wu Mo (Sigg Curator, M+)

The awarded fellow is expected to be attached to M+ for a period of three to six months. They will develop their proposed project in response to the research theme and will be able to access the M+ Collections both onsite and online, consult library and archival materials, deliver several internal presentations, and take part in discussions with curators and other staff members. The fellowship will conclude with a public lecture in Hong Kong and an essay in Chinese (at least 5,000 characters) or in English (at least 7,500 words) to be published on M+ Magazine.

The fellow will be awarded a grant of 200,000 HKD to cover all expenses, including travel, living, insurance, and research-related costs.

How to apply
Applicants are required to provide (in English or Chinese):
–A research proposal (no more than 1,000 words).
–A full curriculum vitae covering education, professional experience, honours, awards, and publications.
–Two letters of recommendation (academic or professional) submitted directly from the referees.

The deadline for submitting the application is December 2, 2024, 11:59pm (UTC +8). Please submit applications in digital formats and all enquiries to siggfellowship@mplus.org.hk using the following email subject line format:

[M+ Sigg Fellowship 2024/25 Application] SURNAME, First name

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