Ljubljana's Art Scene: From Activist Squats to Biennial Innovation
Following Slovenia's independence in 1991, Ljubljana's cultural scene transformed significantly, with artists taking over the Metelkova barracks, which now serves as a center for studios, a hostel, and a gallery. The MSUM Museum of Contemporary Art, inaugurated in 2011, alongside Moderna Galerija, highlights ex-Yugoslav militant art, including the Arteast 2000+ collection featuring notable artists such as Marina Abramović and Ilya & Emilia Kabakov. Zdenka Badovinac, the director, enhances European collaboration through L'internationale. Additional venues include the City Art Gallery and Vžigalica Gallery. Tobacco 001 offers a museum and artist residencies, while Neja Tomšič leads MoTA. The Photon Contemporary Photography Centre, established by Dejan Sluga, meets public photography demands. The Rog factory, occupied in 2006, is being transformed into a creative space. The 32nd Biennial of Graphic Arts is set to open in September 2017, and the 25th BIO design biennial will take place from May 25, 2017.
Key facts
- Metelkova barracks occupied by artists after 1991 independence.
- MSUM opened in 2011.
- Arteast 2000+ collection includes Marina Abramović, Ilya & Emilia Kabakov, Dan Perjovschi, Laibach, IRWIN, NSK.
- Zdenka Badovinac directs MSUM and Moderna Galerija.
- Photon founded by Dejan Sluga due to lack of photography institutions.
- Photonic Moments festival started 2005, biennial since 2008.
- Rog factory occupied in 2006, redevelopment planned with RogLab.
- 32nd Biennial of Graphic Arts in September 2017.
- BIO 25 titled 'Faraway, so close' opens May 25, 2017.
- BIO founded in 1963 as Biennial of Industrial Design.
- Slovenia has 2 million people, 60% forest, 40% cultivated land.
- No museum for photography and multimedia arts in Slovenia.
Entities
Artists
- Marina Abramović
- Ilya Kabakov
- Emilia Kabakov
- Dan Perjovschi
- Laibach
- IRWIN
- NSK
- Neja Tomšič
- Dejan Sluga
- Aurora Fonda
- Maja Vardjan
- Angela Rui
- Giorgia Losio
Institutions
- MSUM – Muzej Sobodne Umetnosti
- Moderna Galerija
- Arteast 2000+
- L'internationale
- City Art Gallery
- Vžigalica Gallery
- Tobacco 001
- MoTA – Museum of Transitory Art
- Kino Šiška
- Photon – Centre for Contemporary Photography
- Photonic Moments
- MGLC – International Centre of Graphic Arts
- Biennial of Graphic Arts
- BIO – Biennial of Industrial Design
- Museum of Architecture and Design
- Rog
- RogLab
- AplusA
- Artribune
Locations
- Ljubljana
- Slovenia
- Metelkova
- Tivoli Park
- Budapest
- Bratislava
- Zagreb
- Belgrade
- Rovinj
- Novo mesto
- Sarajevo
- Venice
- Milan