The exhibition of the young artist, which emerged under the patronage of the institute LokalPatriot and konS ≡ Platform for Contemporary Investigative Arts addresses the current environmental issues of the Anthropocene and observes the accelerating changes driven by late capitalism, such as global warming and loss of biodiversity. The project presents optimistic answers to the various blemishes created by 21 st -century society and promotes a purposeful view of our shared future. This research-oriented work comprises a multimedia installation, which will be premiered at the Simulaker Gallery (20 January 2023–18 February 2023), and a publication of the same name, which adds to the gallery layout, while also constituting a unique whole as regards its content and concept.
The method that we have chosen in the developmental stages of the project utilizes contemporary research and artistic approaches along with contemporary technologies such as artificial intelligence. In its essence, the project reflects upon the current state of the contemporary society and ecologies within which we currently live, while also creating a space for contemplating other possible futures. In this sense, an imaginarium empowered by art is of key importance, for it allows us to consider the potential solutions and consequentially establish the necessary levers for a sustainable future. In order to implement the latter, it is essential to establish interdisciplinary connections between various fields, knowledge, and skills. Due to this, we in the planning phases of the project connected with and established a dialogue with experts and scientists in the field of ecology, artists, psychologists, and other critical thinkers.
The goal of the project is to challenge our traditional assumptions and beliefs and strengthen our environmental awareness, thus creating a space for contemplating the immediate future within our primary ecosystem – Planet Earth. Certain individuals and corporations, who have financial and other levers of power in their hands, are betting on the results of research on the universe and terraforming planets suitable for humans (e.g. Mars), while forgetting that our planet already has a working system that needs to be protected if we wish to live in reasonably favourable conditions. If we want to understand the broader picture, we believe that it is of key importance that we, as a society, transfer our view onto the immediate environment in which we are situated and focus on designing models that encourage sustainable development and cohabitation with other organisms. Within the parameters of the above identified goals, we have recognised the necessity of establishing new mechanisms for educating and informing future society that are appropriate to the time we inhabit, which would equip people with critical thinking abilities as regards the current living conditions.
Adrijan Praznik
curator / producer
Production: LokalPatriot – Galerija Simulaker
Curator and producer: Adrijan Praznik
Programmer: Rok Kos
Sound design: Tim Kropivšek
3D design: Brina Meze-Petrić
Organization and head of project: Gašper Beg, Adrijan Praznik
Programmer and advisor in the initial phase of the project: Srđan Prodanović
Technical support: Maid Hadžihasanović
Slovene translations: Marko Djukić, Rok Kranjc
English translations: Sunčan Patrick Stone
Slovene language editing: Jezikovna zadruga Soglasnik, z.o.o.
Acknowledgments: Anže Čanžek, Sašo Dolenc, Saša Spačal, Katarina Trstenjak, Polona Kalc, Izidor Ostan Ožbolt, Simon Gmajner, Filip Dobranić, Saša Škof, Nika Tavčar, Taj Zavodnik, Helena Vrbanac, Projekt Atol Institute, Ljudmila Art and Science Laboratory, CONA | Institute for Contemporary Arts Processing
CV
Nejc Trampuž (
1993) is a multimedia artist and photographer. For the past five years, he has been actively involved in environmental and ecological projects and since 2019, he has also been an activist in the Youth for Climate Justice movement. His favourite form of expression is art collage in combination with various contemporary technologies, media and approaches. He combines these technologies to create his signature aesthetics, which is boisterous and often interactive.
He graduated Cum Laude and received an award for his Master’s degree in photography at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design. In 2018, he spent a semester working at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava where he prepared a solo exhibition at the OFF_festival as part of the Month of Photography in Bratislava. The Mur.at Association recently invited him to Graz in Austria, where he organized a workshop on generating images and texts using artificial intelligence as part of a multi-day event called Worklab (Un)sustainable?!, where they explored how modern technologies intertwine with environmental protection and ecology. In 2019, the Simulaker Gallery awarded him the PS37 reward. This kicked off cooperation with the Gallery, which resulted in an exhibition held as part of the konS project, as well as this book. He was a guest at various round tables, and he is also a member of the jury of the student section of the Plaktivat competition. In addition, he was a member of the jury of the student section of the Animateka Festival (2017) where he also presented his short animated film. His works have been exhibited at numerous solo and group exhibitions and festivals. He has worked with organizations in Slovenia and other countries (konS modules, IZIS Festival, Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova (+MSUM), Futurology at the Nova Gorica City Gallery, Alkatraz Gallery, the Ljubljana Centre for Contemporary Arts, GT22, the Slovenian Association of Fine Art Societies, Kaos Festival at the Layer House Street Gallery, TAM-TAM, Sloart, Artsy Platform, the Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO), the Foto Fest festival in Slovakia, the Photogether Gallery in the Czech Republic, the Ljubljana City Hall, AQ Gallery, etc.).