the shape of silence

This open call is addressed to emerging and established photographers who wish to present a coherent and personal visual research on the theme “The Shape of Silence.” Silence is understood not as an absence, but as a presence: a space charged with tension, anticipation, memory, and possibility, capable of taking on multiple and layered visual forms.

We are looking for photographic projects that interpret silence in its intimate, social, political, or metaphysical dimensions, through an authentic, experimental, or conceptual approach. All photographic genres and styles are welcome — from documentary to fine art photography, from narrative to abstract practices — as long as the work demonstrates a clear artistic vision and strong formal and conceptual coherence.

The open call is open to both completed projects and works in progress, provided they are sufficiently developed. The selection will be based on aesthetic quality, conceptual strength, narrative impact, and the project’s ability to engage in dialogue with the exhibition space.

Selected projects will be presented in a group exhibition in Milan at Gola Gallery, within a curatorial context focused on contemporary visual languages and international perspectives. The exhibition aims to provide a platform for visibility and professional growth, fostering cultural exchange and dialogue between diverse artistic sensibilities.