WE
Kuratorka: Rene Rusjan
We. Does this mean the We and the collective You, You and
I, or is there also a They, and if so, who does that mean?
Goricans, Slovenians, Europeans, Christians, atheists,
revolutionaries, mothers, children, families of all types?
Are the new arrivals also We, are We the ones staying or
are We perhaps the ones departing? Are We those living here
and now, or those who have ever lived and ever will? Who is
it that we are? And who is it that we can be? Only humans?
Are animals included in the concept of We? What about other
creatures of the planet, are they also We? Even those that
breathe with gills, or those that do not breathe at all?
Does We include those beyond the stars, or are those They,
or You? What do We have to say to each other? Some months
ago I started a process which has been taking form
throughout the year. The concentrated sequence of events
scheduled during the festival week taking place in December
2016 is only the conclusion of a stage of this process,
only an intersection where the paths of all contributors
meet, it is a festival, a celebration and an exhibition, a
communication exercise via the events, where the visitors
will join us. This edition of Pixxelpoint is a particularly
long and widespread process, through which I bring together
the contributing artists. Artists in collaboration with
other artists and art students, scientists and the
laboratories and research centers of the University of Nova
Gorica, join together with the local community in the
research of the specific nature of living on the state
border in light of international events, where art,
science, society and everyday life meet.
Perhaps the key question I ask
throughout this process is how we see one another. Not just
through art or science, but most of all how all of this
helps us to survive, what it means for the destiny of the
human being.
Of course, by using the title We I find myself thinking
about the Zamyatin novel from 1921, asking myself in what
enclosures and glass domes are we trapped right now? And
who are the Guardians and Benefactors arranging our lives;
can the choice between Me and We be any different? As
members of the selfie society, are we on the other end of
the spectrum, or is it just an illusion? What separates We
from Me, who respects Me but is equally concerned about We,
You and Them? To exchange freedom for happiness... Is that
what this is? The second reference, which comes from an
ancient memory of my childhood, the sixties, is the even
older issue of LIFE magazine from my father’s collection. I
remember this magical photograph, depicting an entire hall
of people with 'weird' glasses looking into their shared
'future'. This memory stuck with me even when I was later
told that the people are sitting in a theater, about to
watch their first film in 3D. (Photography by LIFE magazine
correspondent J. R Eyerman, Paramount Theater, Hollywood,
1952, first color 3-D feature-length film premiere,
portrayed in Natural Vision).
In my recollection, these people are looking into a future
full of progress. This was the time of the moon landing
(1969), when my grandmother and I would watch exciting
reports from Cape Canaveral and Apollo’s communications
with Houston, the television program 'Po sledeh napredka'
('On the tracks of progress'), which was full of exciting
inventions promising to make our lives better. Hope was in
the air, and a promise of a bright future and progress.
Despite the Cold War, our gaze was directed to the stars.
Thinking back to these times, I ask myself what this future
of theirs looks like now. They were looking to where we are
now. What happened in the meantime, where have we come to?
There was indeed technical progress, but – did it make us
happier? What about social relations - how does that aspect
of the then-future, our now-present, look? What, from our
perspective, can we tell them – and therefore what can we
tell ourselves? In this context, how do we view our own
future and the future of our children?
Curator: Rene Rusjan
Rene Rusjan graduated in sculpture from the Academy of
Fine Arts and Design of University of Ljubljana in 1987;
she worked as an independent artist until 2009; she
co-founded the KD Galerija GT (1988); she co-founded and
served as program director of the Famul Stuart School of
Applied Arts (1994) and contributed to the establishment of
its successor, the School of Arts (2009), now the Akademija
umetnosti (2016) of the University of Nova Gorica, and its
study programs, where she has been employed as program
director and a professor of contemporary art practices. She
explores art by focusing on the role it plays in our
lives.
Contributing artists
Robertina Šebjanič, Andreea Oarga Mulec, Tea Hvala,
Jasna Hribernik, Antonio Della Marina, Alessandra Zucchi,
Denis Mavrič, Paul Bush, Niloufar Tajeri, Gal Kirn, Tanja
Lažetić, Helene Thuemmel, Rawan Hourani, Sabina Đogić, Anja
Medved, Nadija Mustapić, Toni Meštrović, Vesna Bukovec,
Widad Tamimi, Nika Avtor, Anja Golob, Nemanja Ćađo, Nina
Šorak, Urša Adamič, Pila Rusjan, Gaja Kutnjak, Elena Fajt,
Lucija Jankovec, Dejan Krajnik, Neja Kaligaro, Valerie Wolf
Gang, Ruobing Wang, Petra Varl, Metod Blejec, Una Rebić,
Miha Colner, Slavko Glamočanin, Postaja Topolove/Stazione
di Topolò, SMO – Slovensko multimedialno okno
Program
Friday, 2. december
17.30: Pre-opening
University of Nova Gorica School of Arts
18.30: Pre-opening
Trgovski dom Gallery
19.30: Pre-opening
Carinarnica
20.00: opening of the exhibition
We and official opening ceremony of Pixxelpoint 2016
Nova Gorica City Gallery
21.00–22.00: Denis Mavrič, Energy
Interactions: interactive installation with the author
present
Rotunda of SNG Nova Gorica
Saturday, 3. december
Shirt exchange as part of the shirting... project,
which will continue throughout the festival. The point of
exchange is the Nova Gorica City Gallery.
Registrations: mestnagalerija@kulturnidom-ng.si.
11.00–13.00: Petra Varl, Cutouts:
photographic excursion with the artist and her portable
metal drawings Walk from the University of Nova Gorica
School of Arts, past the tunnel, Carinarnica and the Nova
Gorica Train Station to the Nova Gorica City Gallery
12.00–15.00: Helene Thuemmel, Digital stones or Where is
Tito: individual discussions about hillside writings
Carinarnica
13.00–14.00: Ruobing Wang, Eat
Me
The Singapore-based artist arranges compositions using
green books at the Nova Gorica City Gallery and the France
Bevk Library. You are invited to bring your used books with
green or greenish backs, which the artist will use in her
composition and where she will converse with you.
Nova Gorica City Gallery
16.00–18.00: Paul Bush, While
Darwin Sleeps (5’) and Babeldom (85’), films
After the projection, Igor Prassel will moderate a
discussion with the author.
Pixxelpoint Festival in collaboration with the University
of Nova Gorica School of Arts and the Animateka
Festival.
Kinemax, Gorizia
19.00–21.00: Denis Mavrič, Energy
Interactions: interactive installation with the author
present
Rotunda of SNG Nova Gorica
Sunday, 4. december
9.00–16.00: We Excursion –
Spaces of Art and Culture
We will be visiting the Topolo Station in Cividale del
Friuli and the SMO Landscape and Narrative Museum, in
Udine, Italy.
Register for free transportation:
mestnagalerija@kulturnidom-ng.si
Monday, 5. december
11.00–13.00: We – Memory for
the Future – Monument, discussion
The discussion with various authors (Anja Medved, Gal Kirn, Niloufar
Tajeri, Tanja Lažetić, Nemanja Ćađo, Helene Thuemmel) will
be moderated by Miha Colner.
Trgovski dom Gallery
14.00–16.00: Helene Thuemmel,
Digital stones or Where is Tito: individual discussions
about hillside writings
Carinarnica
18.00–19.15: Nika Autor, In the
Land of Bears (Slovenia, 2012, 72’), film
19.15–20.30: We – Memory for the
Future – Role of the Artist, discussion
The discussion with various authors (Nika Autor, Vesna
Bukovec, Widad Tamimi, Rawan Hourani, Sabina Đogić) will be
moderated by Miha Colner.
Kulturni dom Nova Gorica
If you are in Ljubljana, you can catch the show Where Was I
at 20.00 in the Ljubljana Dance Theater. Book your ticket
at: 041 581 319
PTL, Prijateljeva 2a, Ljubljana
Tuesday, 6. december
14.00–16.00: Helene
Thuemmel, Digital stones or Where is Tito: individual
discussions about hillside writings
Carinarnica
18.00–21.00: Denis Mavrič, Energy
Interactions: interactive installation with the author
present
Rotunda of SNG Nova Gorica
Wednesday, 7. december
14.00–16.00: Helene
Thuemmel, Digital stones or Where is Tito: individual
discussions about hillside writings
Carinarnica
18.00–19.00: Jasna Hribernik,
Vitanje in Space – Sunita (Slovenia, 2015, 52’), film
19.00 – 20.00: We – In Space,
discussion
After the film projection, Ervin Hladnik Milharčič will
moderate the discussion with the author of the film,
astrophysicsists from the University of Nova Gorica, Prof.
Dr. Samo Stanič and Doc. Dr. Sergei Vorobiov and the
director of the Slovenian Scientific Foundation Dr. Edvard
Kobal.
Kulturni dom Nova Gorica
Thursday, 8. december
10.00–15.00: We Excursion –
Spaces of Science, Spaces of Art
We will be visiting the laboratories and research centers
of the University of Nova Gorica located in Rožna Dolina,
Ajdovščina and Vipava, then return to the Nova Gorica City
Gallery, where we will view the result of the artistic
collaboration between two artists (Robertina Šebjanič, Tea
Hvala) and a scientist (Andreea Oarga-Mulec, UNG)
Register for free transportation:
mestnagalerija@kulturnidom-ng.si
16.30–17.30: Rawan Hourani,
Dreamcatcher postcards, kids’ workshop with the Nova Gorica
City Gallery Art Course Nova Gorica City Gallery
17.30–22.00: Pixxelpoint meets
PAIC (Participatory Art for Invisible Communities) in the
town of Osek pri Šempasu – with a presentation of workshops
and a public round-table discussion. The event will be
followed by a luncheon with a selection of local culinary
delights and fine wines.
Co-organized by the University of Nova Gorica, School of
Arts and KTD Osek.
Register for free transportation:
mestnagalerija@kulturnidom-ng.si
Friday, 9. december
15.00–16.30: Rawan Hourani,
Dreamcatcher postcards, a workshop with teenage migrants
and locals
Carinarnica
16.00: Rene Rusjan, guided tour
of the exhibition in the Nova Gorica City Gallery
“The link between art, learning and everyday life” in
collaboration with the Nova Gorica City Gallery Art Course
(Julij Borštnik, Anja Kranjc, Katja Oblak)
Nova Gorica City Gallery
10.00–18.00:Sabina Đogić, 14
songs – A Prayer for Lost Songs
Film author set up a song collection point. She invites you
to come sing your song from memory and contribute to this
growing collection of songs.
Kostanjevica Franciscan Monastery above Nova Gorica
17.00: Festival closing
ceremony
Kostanjevica Franciscan Monastery chapel courtyard above
Nova Gorica
Exhibition schedule:
The main exhibition at the
Nova Gorica City Gallery will be open for visitors 2-9 December 2016, from 9.00 to 19.00.
University of Nova Gorica School of Arts (Via A. Diaz 5, Gorizia, I) will show work-in-progress of animation, film, photography and bio-art workshops on the topic We on December 2016, every day from 10.00 to 15.00.
Carinarnica – Bivouac of Urban Culture (Erjavčeva 53, Nova Gorica) will be open for visitors 2–9 December 2016, every day from 14.00 to 17.00.
TIR, Mostovna Gallery (Cesta IX. korpusa 99A, Solkan), will be open for visitors from 21.00 to 23.00 on Friday and Saturday, and from 17.00 to 19.00 on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday.
France Bevk Gorica Library (Nova Gorica), will be open for visitors 2–9 December 2016, during the library’s normal opening hours.
The
Cultural information touchpoint (Nova Gorica Train Station) will be open for visitors 2–9 December 2016, every day from 9.00 to 18.00.
Trgovski dom Gallery (Corso G. Verdi 52, Gorizia, I) will be open for visitors 2–9 December 2016, every day from 14.00 to 17.00, other hours by appointment only.
Other festival venues:
Kostanjevica Franciscan Monastery above Nova Gorica – all-day event, 9 December 2016, from 10.00 to 18.00.
Kinemax (Piazza Vittoria 41, Gorizia, I) – film projections and discussions with the artists.
Kulturni dom Nova Gorica – film projections and discussions with the artists and scientists.
Rotunda of SNG Nova Gorica – evening hours, 2., 3., 6. December 2016.
University of Nova Gorica, Gorizia, Rožna Dolina, Ajdovščina, Vipava – field visits to laboratories and science centers.
Events with the artists will be scheduled, check the program at: http://www.pixxelpoint.org or the festival’s Facebook profile.
