Metelkova Squat and Slovenian Avant-Garde Projects Redefine Urban Space and Cultural Policy
In 1991, a group of activists took over unused military barracks on Metelkova Street in Ljubljana, creating an independent cultural center. The Ljubljana City Council aimed to demolish this site for commercial purposes and cut off its utilities in 1993. This led to a conflict between cultural organizations and local authorities over Metelkova City. Architect Marjetica Potrč observed similar 'voids' in cities such as Ljubljana and Munich. In January 2000, artist Jože Barsi erected a toilet as a monument there. Michael Wimmer's 1996 European Report highlighted Slovenia's absence of a cultural policy. During the 1980s, Ljubljana's art scene flourished in non-institutional venues, promoting practices like graffiti. On December 15, 1999, Dragan Živadinov's Noordung Biomechanics performed in zero gravity in Moscow, examining physiological effects of weightlessness.
Key facts
- Metelkova Street barracks in Ljubljana were occupied by artists and activists in 1991 after the Yugoslav army left Slovenia.
- The Ljubljana City Council cut off water and electricity to Metelkova in 1993 to force out squatters.
- Jože Barsi installed a toilet as a monument in Metelkova's public space in January 2000.
- Marjetica Potrč identified 'voids' in historical city centers like Ljubljana, Münster, Vienna, and Munich.
- Dragan Živadinov performed Noordung Biomechanics in zero gravity over Moscow on December 15, 1999.
- The European Report on Slovenian Cultural Policy by Michael Wimmer in 1996 found Slovenia lacked clear cultural policy.
- The Irwin NSK State in Time project required passports with visas for a 1994 performance at Berlin Volksbühne.
- Marko Peljhan moved his Macrolab to Australia in 2000 to research auto-sufficient technological data transmission.
Entities
Artists
- Marina Gržinić
- Marjetica Potrč
- Jože Barsi
- Mary Jane Jacob
- Michael Wimmer
- Dragan Živadinov
- Scott Bukatman
- Jean Baudrillard
- Timothy Leary
- William Gibson
- Vsevolod Emiljevich Mejerholjd
- Cindy Sherman
- Stelarc
- Orlan
- Slavoj Žižek
- Maurice Merleau-Ponty
- Mario Perniola
- Marko Peljhan
- Krikaljov
- Leonardo da Vinci
Institutions
- City Council of Ljubljana
- Network
- Action Committee for Metelkova
- Gallery Škuc
- Sculpture Chicago Organisation
- Council of Europe
- Ministry of Culture
- Theater of the Sisters of Scipio Nasica
- IRWIN
- Neue Slowenische Kunst
- Noordung Cosmokinetic Cabinet Theater
- Red Pilot Cosmokinetic Theater
- Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Facility
- Duke University Press
- Semiotext(e)
- Verso
- Berlin Volksbühne
- Macrolab
Locations
- Ljubljana
- Slovenia
- Metelkova Street
- Münster
- Vienna
- Munich
- Chicago
- United States
- Moscow
- Russia
- Star City
- Berlin
- Germany
- Australia
- Latin America