The Academy of Fine Arts and Design Ljubljana (ALOU): Reflections
light installations, (interactive) projections
mentors: Prof. Sašo Sedlaček & Assoc. Prof. Robert Černelč, MA (Academy of Fine Arts and Design, University of Ljubljana (ALOU)); Nika Erjavec
various locations in the city // until 14 June
OPENING: Friday, 23 May, at 9:30 p.m.

Students of Video, Animation, and New Media from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana (3rd year undergraduate and 1st year postgraduate) have created a series of original projects for this year’s festival, each engaging with the festival’s theme in distinct and meaningful ways. HANA NIKIĆ tackles the issue of sexual violence: hand prints projected onto women’s bodies highlight the emotional and physical consequences of such abuse. The tandem BETI FRIM & DUNJA RAHOVSKY ŠULIGOJ, in their project Something Beautiful (Valvasor Park), deconstruct the personal ID document, transforming it under UV light into a meaningful authorial image. LARA POTOČNIK has conceptualised a project entitled I Come to Life in Dreams (under the Barje Bridge over Gradaščica River / Light Park) with shadows and moving elements, which thematizes the duality between the human spirit and the body. ELIZAVETA STROGANOVA’s video project entitled Behind Four Walls (windows of the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU), New Square) addresses the question of the perception of reality, voyeurism and the invisibility of domestic violence with the depiction of two persons represented as silhouettes. VERONIKA N. ŠTEFANEC‘s project I Shit on the System (Vegova Street) tackles the process of animation using RGB light: it thematises the everyday chores of a pet, which turns into a symbol of resistance against repression against people and animals. JAN LAVRIČ presents two projects, namely: The first is titled Unconscious Stream / Home Sweet Home (Foerster’s Garden): it is an interactive video installation that allows uploading of image and text content that is projected in real time, with newly uploaded content gradually replacing older content. The project, which also involves a programmer Jaka Metelko and an artist Manuel Brajnik, allows the audience to evaluate the content and thus also reflect on digital culture and creativity. The second project, a light installation entitled (In)visible Inhabitant (under Prule Bridge) thematises the life of rats in the city and the negative connotations surrounding these animals, and indirectly, the often-unfounded prejudices that shape our view of the world and others. With the project Hotspot (exhibition at the Jakopič Gallery), NEVENA ANDREJIĆ sets out to establish a unique connection between Ljubljana and Belgrade; using two thermal cameras, her work enables direct video communication between anonymous individuals in both capitals. Thermal images of two individuals who meet in such a way blend on the screen into a uniform image that, in this way, transcends physical distances. MATEJ NIKOLA TONKOVIĆ‘s project entitled Target (Meta) thematises movement in the city at the night, when the flow of people is smaller and the visibility is limited. What happens when the public space is seemingly peaceful, but at the same time, also unpredictable and dangerous?

Video mapping: Oliver Wagner (H. Nikič’s project)

Co-production: Academy of Fine Arts and Design, University of Ljubljana (ALOU), Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU) (E. Strogarova’s project); Rog Centre and River Captains’ Club (J. Lavrič’s project); Students in Lockdown (N. Andrejić’s project).

Sponsor: TAM-TAM (B. Frim & D. R. Šuligoj’s projects)

Programming: Jaka Metelko (J. Lavrić’s project)