Les fous, les malfrats et les cours

Ljubljana, Slovenia A gathering of sixteen prominent Slovenian artists took place last Thursday at the Gunclje Gallery in Ljubljana, marking fifty-one years since their shared entry into the Academy of Fine Arts. The exhibition, titled Generation ALU075, reunites former classmates who crossed the threshold of the academy in 1975. The event was initiated by artist Igor Kregar, who proposed the reunion to reconnect with his peers after more than five decades. The display features works by Bojan Abaza, Mirsad Begić, Mojca Černič Pretnar, Zvonko Čoh, Draga Davitkova Erič, Rajmund Kocbek, Tomaž Kolarič, Igor Kregar, Jože Marinč, Ignacij Meden, Mirna Pavlovec, Marja Prelog, Aljana Primožič, Jože Tönig, and Jana Vizjak. Although two members of the cohort, Evelina Batista and Eva Heimer, have passed away, their artworks were included in the presentation to honor their contributions. The gallery curator, France Zavodnik, representing the Blaz Potocnik Society Reading Room, welcomed the attendees. He noted the rarity of nineteen exhibitors assembling in a single space. Among them are three recipients of the Preseren Fund award. Most of the group studied under Professor Janez Bernik. Sculptor Mirsad Begić, one of the laureates, arrived in Slovenia after completing secondary school before graduating from the academy. Despite using ski poles for mobility assistance, Begić stated he is currently preparing an exhibition in Vienna. Other distinguished participants include illustrator and animated film director Zvonko Choh, and painter, illustrator, and animator Milan Eric, both of whom have also received the Preseren award. Igor Kregar displayed his collages during the opening ceremony. He described the academic environment of 1975 as a hub for intense learning, creation, and mutual dialogue. Students worked in shared studios, debated art concepts, and learned from one another. Kregar recalled the period as vibrant, describing the student body as a large family that lived lively academic years together. The reunion carried emotional weight for many participants. Mojca Cernic Pretnar, who completed a master’s degree in restoration and conservation after her initial diploma, expressed delight at being brought together by Kregar. She explained that she now creates differently than during her studies, working primarily in clay. Two of her sculptures are part of the current show. Draga Davitkova Eric, who came from Macedonia to study at the academy and remained in Slovenia, was similarly moved by the occasion. She remembered how connected the generation felt while discussing painting in shared workshops and observing their professors' work. For her, the exhibition represents the realization of a memory that had persisted for half a century. Her colleague Cernic Pretnar added a humorous remark, noting that Draga had married her classmate Milan. The gallery presented the artists with a rose as a gesture of appreciation. Aljana Primozic, a long-time caricaturist for the Slovenian newspaper Slovenske novice, holds a unique position within the group. She left her studies after the second year. Consequently, she was particularly pleased that her colleagues decided to organize the exhibition as a memorial to their shared beginnings. The exhibition will remain open until October 29. In a separate cultural development, the Public Fund of the Republic of Slovenia for Cultural Activities has prepared its tenth national thematic exhibition, titled Manure is Gold. This jubilee project coincides with the Kosovel Year 2026. The theme derives from the first line of the poet’s poem Kons 5. The concept invites artists to explore waste, discarded, and used materials, as well as found objects, which can gain new appearance and meaning through artistic intervention. The topic allows for diverse interpretations, ranging from new formal approaches to social criticism of consumerism, excess, and the status of modern society. From 375 submitted entries, 195 works were presented at eight regional exhibitions held between September and November of last year. Art historian Natasa Kovsca served as the national selector. She chose 48 works for the final display based on formal and content relevance to the theme, artistic quality, ideological originality, and coherence within the final installation. Given the use of waste materials, design and color consistency were also critical factors. Among the selected artists is Robert Kokol from the Nova Gorica region. His piece, Analogous Wintering, connects the world of analog photography with the contemporary digital era. The object consists of a glass vessel filled with rolls of photographic film. The title suggests multiple interpretations, positioning the film as a reserve of images, memories, and time stored for the future. Kovsca noted that the work references the digital age, where analog photography is considered past, despite recent trends reviving the medium. The artwork raises questions regarding technology, memory, and objects losing their original function due to rapid technological change. Former photographic material becomes an artistic object, acquiring new life and significance. The national exhibition opened on August 20 at the Kosovel House in Sezana. It will be available for public viewing until October 9, 2026. The project aims to encourage, present, and promote high-quality amateur visual arts. It operates on a biennial basis at local, regional, and national levels, linking educational, creative, and exhibition goals.