Curated by Angela Rui and Maja Vardjan, and organized by the Museum of Architecture and Design in Ljubljana, the 25th Biennial of Design—FARAWAY, SO CLOSE—responds to the observation that although the city remains the model within which the evolution of contemporary society is discussed and interpreted, we are now witnessing a growing percentage of people that leave the city for other contexts and environments.
"The Biennial develops from the physical exploration of seven conditions all over Slovenia on which designers were invited to reflect. This is a contemporary phenomenon characteristic of our era: young, informed and emancipated people who have grown up within urban models bring their values into non-urban spaces."
"The framework of FARAWAY, SO CLOSE is an experiment in formats: the designers have been asked to think of a potentially novel interpretation of Slovenian local dimension in order to generate new questions that are relevant also in a broader context. The structure of the biennial, as well as its dislocation, is pushing designers, disciplines and institutions outside their comfort zones."
When three years ago we selected the curatorial concept which suggested that BIO 25 would move from the museum to the Slovenian landscape, it seemed that this could open a whole new chapter for design. I know now that »Faraway so Close« will be a completely new experience in design, something which cannot happen anywhere else than in eccentric and remote places of the beautiful Slovenian countryside.
—Matevž Čelik, Director, Biennial of Design / Museum of Architecture and Design
"BIO25 develops at seven locations in Slovenia. International creative figures, named Translators, have been chosen for their ability to use design and architecture as tools to investigate contemporary issues. Alongside them, selected Slovenian individuals from various fields, named Profiles, will offer their knowledge and originality as inspiration in order to articulate design practices and a speculative scenography to be presented at the Biennial. Divided into seven groups, participants are developing possible scenarios that enquire into local and global issues, using the existing Slovenian territory as a paradigm."
"Translators and Profiles, together with selected participants, form seven teams or Episodes: UNDERGROUND RELEASE with Studio Formafantasma and Andrej Detela, set in the subterranean world of caves in the Mayor's Cave near Grosuplje; OCCUPYING WOODS with Matali Crasset and Matej Feguš in the wild forests of Kočevje; AFTER UTOPIA with Point Supreme and Iztok Kovač responds to former mining infrastructure in Trbovlje; BRAND NEW-COEXISTENCE with Didier Faustino and Mojca Kumerdej explores contemporary urban ruins; COUNTRYSIDE RELOADED with Studio Mischer’Traxler and Klemen Košir researches a rural playground of the Lendava area; RESILIENCE OF THE PAST with Studio Folder and Renata Salecl explores a quiet Alpine setting near the Soča river that was once a raging battleground; and NEW HEROES with Odo Fioravanti and Marin Medak are discovering the looming sea of the Slovenian coastline."
Important Dates
- Exhibition Opening: 25th May 2017
- Opening Week: 24 May–27 May 2017
- Exhibition and Installations open to the public: 25 May–29 October 2017
Download the information related to this event here.
Title
The 25th Biennial of Design, Ljubljana: "Faraway, So Close"Type
Festival / BiennialOrganizers
From
May 25, 2017 09:00 AMUntil
October 29, 2017 11:59 PMVenue
Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO), Ljubljana, SloveniaAddress