TÓTalJOY Prize 2021 – Call to Artists

Visual artist Endre Tót, founder and supporter of the TÓTalJOY Prize, had long been planning to create a form of support for contemporary Hungarian artists.

The prize derives its name from Endre Tót’s conceptual program centred on the notion of joy, which was launched in the 1970s. His early joy pieces and the minimalist actions of the TÓTalJOY series are considered among the most important works representing the narrative of Eastern European conceptual art.

“My ‘joys’ are reflections of the dictatorial conditions that characterised the 1970s. The absurd euphoria of my joys was my response to the censorship, confinement and repression that – in spite of being enforced through subtle means, almost invisibly – could nonetheless be felt. I reacted in a very indirect manner to the times in which I had to live; I used humour, light-heartedness and, to some extent, a philosophical approach. I consistently avoided dark colors and drama in my work. Apart from the oppressive influence of the ideology of the era, there were also the joys of solitude and being alone. Such joys can be experienced even under oppression, and also in the greatest freedom.

Entries to the TÓTalJOY Prize are expected from contemporary artists who are prepared to present art research-based project proposals with a view to implementation. During the selection process, priority will be given to projects that endeavour to explore and address changing cultural contexts and contemporary dilemmas by connecting the subject matter to the spirit of Artpool, and its archives.

The prize-winning artist, in addition to having their fully realised project exhibited, will also be offered an opportunity for research and curatorial consultation at Artpool.

Monetary value of the prize

The total monetary value of the TÓTalJOY Prize is the HUF equivalent of EUR 10,000, of which EUR 6000 constitutes the artist’s honorarium; the remaining sum of EUR 4000 will go towards covering the costs and expenses of project and exhibition implementation, as handled by KEMKI – Artpool Art Research Center. 

Selection process

The winner of the TÓTalJOY Prize will be selected by a panel of six Hungarian and international judges, who will evaluate the winning entries based on the digital portfolios received.

Members of the decision making body in 2021

• Dávid Fehér (director, KEMKI)
• Ferenc Gróf (visual artist, Paris)
• Emese Kürti (deputy-director of research, head of department, KEMKI – Artpool Art Research Center)
• Nóra Lukács (curator, Berlin)
• Berenika Partum (curator, Berlin)
• Katalin Székely (curator, OFF-Biennale, Blinken Open Society Archives)

Proposal coordinator: Zsófia Kókai, assistant curator, KEMKI – Artpool Art Research Center

Submission contact details

Please send your project proposal to the following email address: totaljoy@szepmuveszeti.hu. 

Submission deadline: 15 September 2021, midnight

Deadline for jury decision: 15 October 2021
Public presentation: 6 months following the announcement of the winning entry
Project proposal implementation: 12 months following the announcement of the winning entry