The limits of your language are the limits of your world. The limits of your world are the limits of your language.

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Briefly

In today’s globalized production, geographical and cultural boundaries seem to be disappearing. A product sees light, is launched on the market and travels through the intangible links of the production chain to extremely geographically and culturally distant places. As a consequence we are experiencing a radical rethinking of how we work and how we share information.

No structure emerged in the twentieth century seems to be effective in managing the complex large scale procedures of designing and producing which have emerged in the contemporary globalized world. Professional profiles and skills are changing and the production process is being redefined and constantly put to test by the market. Conflict between the local know-how and globalization has generated anachronistic reactions, in order to preserve an identity which is perceived as at risk.

The territory where production is being carried out and the professional skills of workers, are no longer connected to products. The disappearance of the physical object causes intolerable alienation. The need to develop a different kind of process is becoming more and more evident.

How can we lead a nomadic life, comprehend our ever changing reality while learning to consciously live in it?

This competition announcement is the result of the firsthand experience of a business firm. It aims to challenge the disorientation that those who deal daily with this complex world are facing.

We believe that art’s point of view and a creative approach to socio-economic problems can help those who, in one way or another, guide the production process. Sharing perspectives, knowledge and skills can help creating alternative points view, as it always occurs when different cultures mix and mesh.

We would like to spark a debate and provoke the reaction of artists, thinkers, designers, and creative people in general.

We are looking for an idea, a project, an experience, an installation, a performance, or any other proposal addressing these issues. We would like to give meaning to a territory and to the many stories that have animated it over time.

Residence

The promoters offer participants the opportunity to spend a period of residence within the Pespow production site, where they can develop their projects while interacting with the productive apparatus and its components.

The residency will take place from February 1st to March 1st 2015 at the Pespow headquarters  in San Martino di Lupari (PD). During the residency meetings and discussions on the topics proposed will take place, involving members of the local art and intellectual scene. The program will be completed with a public presentation of the work.

Selection criteria and focus

Applicants should submit a project to be developed during the residence period. Priority will be given to projects with obvious creative-generative contribution, that may stimulate the debate upon the company’s internal dynamics expressed in the announcement. There are no restrictions on the type of project that may be submitted, provided that it is consistent with the topics covered in the competition assignment.

Applicants from countries outside the European Union must have a valid Italian residency permit covering the entire duration of the program and must take care of the necessary procedures to apply for one independently.

Submission Deadline

Proposals must be submitted no later than 12 P.M. (GMT +1) October 31st 2014. Proposals received after this date will not be taken into account. Applicants will be informed about the results no later than November 30th 2014.

Submitting material

Candidates may present their project in a digital format, writing to residency@pespow.com. Attachments are permitted, provided that their total size does not exceed 10 MB. The submission of proposals may also be made ​​by mail, by sending a package to Pespow Ltd, Via dell industria 23, 35018 San Martino di Lupari (PD) specifying “Progetto Residenza Pespow” in the header.

Candidates are invited to submit a resumé or CV, including their contact details, previous projects, significant experience and a bio for a maximum of 500 characters. We encourage you to include a timetable for the project.

Support

The selected candidates will be granted a € 5000 salary and an expense reimbursement for the project up to € 1500. Coverage for any travel expenses up to a maximum of € 500 as well as boarding and lodging for the entire period of the residence will also be provided.

Pespow

Pespow collaborates with fashion brands in the designing and production of quality sportswear, in line with the taste and richness of Italian style. Working with a network of affiliates in strategic areas of the world, Pespow dominates the whole process with creativity and attention to detail. The Pespow projects are distinguished by the creative application of techniques and materials, and by the intelligent retrieval of icons from the past.