ODI ART

Menu

Curatorial Concept Note

IRYYRM: I Reflect You, You Reflect Me

International Children and Youth’s Art Contest 2025 

 

1. Organizers and Partners

Host : OdiArt Centre (Odisha, India)

In Collaboration With :

Culture Research Institute of Asian Folk and Tradition (CRIAFT, Korea)

2. Contest Philosophy and Background

Now in its second edition, the International Children and Youth’s Art Contest IRYYRM (I Reflect You, You Reflect Me) is inspired by the ancient Indian philosophical concept of Indra’s Net (Indra Jaal). This philosophy emphasizes the interconnectedness of all beings in the universe, where each reflects and influences one another.

2025 Theme: “My Mother and Tradition”

Universality: Expressing life and love through the universal theme of motherhood

Tradition: Embedding cultural roots and folk symbols within the artworks

Connectivity : Exploring humanity’s bonds that link the past, present, and future through art

This contest is not only an art competition but also an international cultural festival, held in conjunction with the Chilika Shelduck Festival in collaboration with UNESCO. It provides children with opportunities for self-reflection, coexistence, and intercultural learning, directly aligning with UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 3. Eligibility

• Age : Children and youth aged 6–18
• Region : Open to participants worldwide
 
 4. Contest Objectives
 
• Promote Cultural Diversity: Encourage children from diverse backgrounds to express their identities through art.
 
• Foster Understanding and Respect: Cultivate empathy and appreciation for cultural differences through traditions.
 
• Encourage Artistic Creativity: Strengthen self-reflection and imagination through creative expression.
 
• Facilitate International Exchange: Share artworks and connect children across the globe.
 
• Education for a Sustainable Future: Raise eco-friendly sensibilities and nurture humanity through art.
 
5. Participation Guidelines
 
A. Application Submission
 
• Download the application form from the official Odi Art Centre website (odiartcentre.in).

• Required details: name, age, nationality, address, telephone number, parents’ names, school and grade, artwork title, dimensions, materials, year created, artwork description, and consent for publication.

• Submit the form and artwork image file (approx. 3MB) via the website or by email.

• Submission emails: prafullapathagar@gmail.com / odiartchilika@gmail.com

• Online submission deadline: October 20, 2025 (midnight IST).
 
B. Artwork Specifications
• Format: Flat artwork on the theme “My Mother and Tradition”

• Size: Recommended within 45cm on each side

• Content: Must reflect the participant, tradition, and the symbolism of motherhood

• Materials: Eco-friendly and safe materials encouraged
 
C. Physical Artwork Submission (for awardees only)

• Deadline: November 5, 2025 (arrival date)
• Submission Address (India): Office of Odi Art Centre  
 
L-40, Baramunda Housing Board Colony  
Bhubaneswar – 751003, Odisha, India  
Mobile: +91 94372 83230 (Mr. R. R. Acharya)
 
Submission Address (Other Countries) :
Culture Research Institute of Asian Folk and Tradition (CRIAFT)  
Unit No. 504-204, Cheonggyesan-ro 7-gil 43  
Seocho-gu, Seoul 06798, Republic of Korea  
 
Mobile : +82-10-6351-1884

 
 6. Evaluation and Judging
 
 • Criteria : Creativity, expressiveness, traditional/cultural value, eco-friendliness
• Phases –
• Phase 1 : Online review of submitted artworks
• Phase 2 : Physical submission of selected works, followed by final judging and awards
 
7. Awards and Benefits
 
• All Participants: Certificate of participation (downloadable online from January 1, 2026)
 
• Awardees: Certificate and plaque
 
• Exhibition Opportunities: Participation in UNESCO collaborative exhibitions and international touring shows
 
8. Exhibitions and Event Schedule (2025–2026)
 
• October 5–20, 2025: Online submission period (Final deadline: October 20, 2025, midnight IST)
• October 25, 2025: Announcement of awardees
• November 5, 2025: Deadline for physical submission of award-winning works (arrival date)
• November 15, 2025: Award-winning exhibition opens (Odi Art Centre, Chilika Shelduck Festival in collaboration with UNESCO)
• January–February 2026: International Children’s Art Workshop in Odisha (awardees invited, award ceremony included)
• April 2026: Exhibition at Art Garden Kawasaki, Japan
• 2026–2027: World touring exhibitions of award-winning artworks
 
9. International Children’s Art Workshop (Jan–Feb 2026)
 
• Participants: Awardees of IRYYRM 2025 + children from different countries
 
Activities :
 
•Collaborative mural creation (Theme: My Mother and Tradition)
• Eco-friendly collaborative art using natural materials
• Folk games, music, and dance exchange programs
• Visits to Odisha’s artist villages and cultural heritage sites
 
10. Curator’s Message
 
As the title “I Reflect You, You Reflect Me” suggests, this contest is a journey where children reflect each other’s light and traditions as they grow.
 
The 2025 IRYYRM, held in conjunction with the Odi Art Centre’s Chilika Shelduck Festival in collaboration with UNESCO, is more than just an art contest. It is a cultural network where children worldwide envision and shape the future together.
 
Within their artworks lie the love of mothers, the roots of tradition, and hopes for the future—becoming guiding lights for humanity’s shared path forward.

Fill the Form


Scroll to Top