Co_Existence // Group exhibition catalogue
Group exhibition catalogue: Boris Beja, Maja Smrekar, Urša Vidic, Miha Godec
Four established intermedia artists (most of whom work at the intersection of art, science, and new technologies) explore, in their latest projects on the theme of the ethics–civilisation–environment relationship, key aspects of the human–nature dynamic that have brought society to the brink of acceptable environmental behaviour. What connects these otherwise diverse artistic practices is a shared position and attitude toward the issues surrounding our collective future beyond the current anthropocentrism – one in which humans must step down from a position of dominance and enter into an inclusive relationship with nature, recognising that we constitute only a small part of the broader ecosystem.
Only a few left (1)
The title of the exhibition refers to an idea by philosopher Timothy Morton, who in his book Dark Ecology: For a Logic of Future Coexistence defines the ecosystem as interconnectedness, and ecological thought as thinking about interconnection and about what environmental philosophy should be in the Anthropocene.
Although this is an age-old theme, its reconsideration is always welcome. In recent years it has permeated a large share of artistic projects, which shows how relevant it is and how every progressive artistic statement in this direction is at the same time a socially responsible gesture that prompts reflection – one of the key challenges of contemporary art and of the programme of the City Art Gallery Ljubljana. German sociologist Ulrich Beck noted in his work Risikogesellschaft (Risk Society) that twentieth-century society was already a “volcano of civilisation,” on the verge of eruption.
The selected artists will present through their works how they perceive and reflect upon the reality of the 21st century, which we have only “just” entered.
Published by: Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana / City Art Gallery Ljubljana
For the publisher: Blaž Peršin
For the City Art Gallery Ljubljana: Barbara Sterle Vurnik
Catalogue editor: Barbara Sterle Vurnik
Texts: Barbara Sterle Vurnik, Alenka Malej, Polona Tratnik
English translation: Arven Šakti Kralj
Slovene language editing: Mirjam Furlan Lapanja
Photography: Blaž Gutman (unless otherwise indicated); Miha Godec: pp. 38, 41, 42, 44, 48, 50, 52
Design and layout: Novi kolektivizem
Print: Fotolito Dolenc, Ljubljana
Print run: 250
January 2024
Number of pages: 220
ISBN: 978-961-6969-56-7