The Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts (Slovenia) is one of the oldest international biennials in the world and this year celebrates its 70th anniversary. This edition, under the artistic direction of the esteemed curator, academic and researcher Chus Martínez, takes the oracle as its point of reference, understood in its ancient sense as a place where the future may be glimpsed. At the same time, the Biennial explores the power of imagination as a tool to renew faith in freedom and solidarity.
Curator Chus Martínez has invited three Catalan creators to participate in the list of featured artists, centred around the curatorial concept “The Oracle: On Fantasy and Freedom”.
Firstly, architect Olga Subirós, a regular collaborator of Martínez, is responsible for conceptualising the exhibition space. Her work is not conceived as a mere exhibition design, but as a handmade spatial sculpture— a unified installation that transforms the exhibition into an immersive experience. Her proposal aims to redefine the role of culture as a collective and critical practice, not directed at a select few, but at the citizenry as a whole.
Also part of the official programme is the duo Tarta Relena (Marta Torrella and Helena Ros), who will headline the opening concert on Friday 6 June at the open-air Plečnik Auditorium in Tivoli Park. Furthermore, Maria Arnal will offer various performances throughout the day on 5 June as part of the “preview day”.
The Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts, founded in 1955, is one of the oldest in the world and has hosted over 9,000 artists from 122 countries throughout its history. It has placed Ljubljana and Slovenian art on the international scene, influenced similar events, and created an active network for the exchange of knowledge in the field of graphic arts. Today, the Biennial is a dynamic platform for artistic creation and critical analysis of society, standing out for its democratisation of art and for overlapping forms of knowledge and practice. The 36th edition will take place at various venues throughout the city, including the Museum of Modern Art, which hosted editions until 1986, when the International Centre of Graphic Arts (MGLC), now the driving force behind the biennial, was established.
