undercurrent
ESEA Sound and Performance Art Festival 2025
Open Call
Location: Copeland Gallery , 133 Copeland Rd, London SE15 3SN
Date of Festival: 13th September, 2025 (SAT)
Curated and produced by: Erika Song & TRA Collective
Night music events produced by: Zenegeist
Deadline for submissions: 15 May 2025, 11:59 PM (BST)
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
About undercurrent:
The contemporary art world has long thrived on diversity, yet certain communities and art forms remain persistently underrepresented. Among them are East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) artists, whose contributions often exist at the margins. Similarly, sound and performance art—ephemeral and time-based by nature—are frequently relegated to the periphery of visual art events. These forms face significant challenges in gaining recognition within the traditional contemporary art landscape, particularly in terms of exhibition opportunities, exposure, and archival preservation. This marginalization not only limits the visibility of ESEA sound and performance artists but also diminishes the broader cultural dialogue their work could inspire.
​
In an effort to address these imbalances, independent curator Erika Song and the curatorial collective TRA proudly present the inaugural ESEA Sound and Performance Art Festival – undercurrent. This one-day event in London aims to spotlight the vibrant and innovative practices of ESEA artists working in sound and performance art. Featuring 10–20 artists, the festival will showcase a curated program centered on a core theme exploring the intersections of cultural heritage, identity, temporality, and the transformative potential of sound and performance.
​
Beyond the programme of live performances, the festival will feature an exhibition of instruments, installations, and archival materials related to the works, offering audiences an opportunity to engage with these dynamic art forms beyond their immediate, time-based nature. To conclude the evening, undercurrent will partner with music events promoter Zenegeist for an electrifying ESEA disco night, celebrating the festival’s spirit with music and community.
Undercurrent ESEA Sound and Performance Art Festival aspires to carve out a space where the fleeting, the experimental, and the underrepresented are celebrated, reshaping the landscape of the contemporary art world through presence, participation, and transcultural exchange.
Terms & Conditions
Eligibility
• Sound artworks and performance artworks are all welcome; please provide audio/video or detailed scripts for proposed works.
• All artists who are of ESEA heritage are welcomed to submit their work for the exhibition.
Specification and Requirements
• Artists may submit up to 3 distinct pieces of work for consideration.
• Files should be uploaded directly to the form.
• Artists should be responsible for providing all equipment needed for their performance.
• Our visual exhibition area is provided for the artists to showcase their performances from another aspect. If you want to utilize the area for displaying your instrument/visual elements/archival materials/or any other visual and textual additions to your performance. Please add your thoughts in the form.
• Agreement will be signed for the purpose of the festival.
Important Dates
• The deadline for submitting your open call application is 15th May 2025,11:59 pm BST.
• Rehearsal and installation will be on 12th September 2025.
• The festival will take place on 13th September 2025.
• The selected artists will be contacted via email. We aim to select artists within two weeks of the submission deadline. If you do not receive an email from us, it means your work has not been selected.
Liability and Photography
• Erika Song and TRA Collective cannot be responsible for loss or damage to
artworks, and artists are encouraged to carry their own insurance.
• Erika Song and TRA Collective reserve the right to photograph artwork during the event and use images of the artwork for publicity and educational purposes in perpetuity. The artist agrees to the above mentioned terms by submitting artwork via this open call.
File Standards
• Please title your files before uploading them to the form with “Artist name, Artwork
Title, Year, Medium, Duration.”
• For video submissions, please provide a video link and paste it into the form.
Submission
• The submission is free of charge.
• Artists do not pay extra fees to participate in the festival.
Submission link:
https://forms.gle/Y7rrY6rz6YXyfAFj7
​
​
Thank you for considering submitting your work for this open call. If you have any questions, having any trouble with the submission form or simply want to talk about the project, please do not hesitate to contact us on instagram @_under_current or email your inquiry at undercurrent.esea@gmail.com.
​
​
© Erika Song & TRA Collective
