Open Call

Dingen die niet verkopen verkopen u dingen

‘Dingen die niet verkopen’ is the artists’ initiative of Alec De Bruyn, Amber De Saeger and Lodewijk Heylen. In our space, we organize new exhibitions and performance events each month, but also make room for spontaneous happenings and collaborations. Our space with great visibility is located in the center of Antwerp and is surrounded by shopping streets.

Our current season, The Plot Thickens, focuses on artists who explore different forms of storytelling through their work. We want to extend this theme to our annual group exhibition, ‘Dingen die niet verkopen, verkopen u dingen’, which will run from December 11th to December 21st of 2025.

At a time when reality is stranger than fiction, we're looking for visual art that actively explores the friction between truth and make-believe. For the occasion, we're opening a department store stocked with untruths. In case you don’t get your fix while doomscrolling, you can always count on Dingen die niet verkopen for your daily dose of nonsense.

We are looking for unique objects and/or editions/multiples that tell a false or distorted narrative through text or image. Three-dimensional works and objects, as well as zines and alternative forms of publication, are eligible. We prefer objects that can be displayed on a shelf, newspaper carousel, or table. Works intended for wall mounting are not eligible.

Deadline
16 november 2025
Organizer
Dingen die niet verkopen

Specifics

  • Your work tells a (fictional) story through text and/or image.

  • We are looking for small works: you can hold them in one hand and they cost no more than €100 (including VAT). We do not take ownership of your work, and you receive the full amount as agreed upon if sold. We will add an additional 20% to the sales price to cover the costs and communication of this exhibition, which we keep.

  • To ensure a smooth selection process, we ask for the title of the work, its dimensions, year of production, the price (including VAT), and a short description. If applicable, we would also like to know how many copies of the work are available

  • Submit a maximum of three artworks by 11:59 PM on November 16th, along with a brief explanation and relevant links. We will select the works during the week of November 17th and will try to respond personally to each submission.

  • Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

  • If you are selected, you must ensure that your work arrives at Dingen die niet verkopen (Oude Beurs 62, 2000 Antwerp) during the weekend of December 5th. Specific dates for this will be scheduled later. After the exhibition, you have to collect the works yourself, if they aren’t sold.
     

In the image you see an example of an art work that would suit this open call: Unfortune Cookies by Seonmin Park. For more information about this work and more examples, please visit https://www.dingendienietverkopen.be/calls.

Apply by e-mail before 11:59 PM on November 16th to info@ddnv.be with the title "The Plot Thickens".