The Museum of Architecture and Design will celebrate the twentieth birthday of Slovenia with the project Designing the Republic. The exhibition, catalogue and short films on architecture that will be presented on 30 June are a creative, future-oriented way to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Slovenia’s independence. The aim of the exhibition is to use the selected works to examine the effectiveness of architectural and design responses to the new circumstances by comparing the original ideas and the present situation and combining them with the photographic approaches of the period. A brief overview of architecture, design and photography will present the special achievements and good investments, as well as point out the disadvantages and weak points of the last two decades and formulate questions about the future.

Designing the Republic
The great transformation that began twenty years ago with political, social and economic changes encompassed almost all spheres of life. Slovenia’s independence is today seen as a controversial turning point that on the one hand unleashed creative energy and opened up new creative opportunities in architecture, design and other creative practices, but on the other hand, placed architecture and design within new circumstances that demanded a proactive attitude towards finances, clients, practical needs, available knowledge and random coincidences.
Superficially it might seem that the architecture and design assignments during that period were focused mostly on increasing living comfort beyond what was attainable during Socialist times. Architects and designers increasingly found themselves in the role of providers of services that had to be cheap, fast and immediately effective. In circumstances where everything is open and where common goals are minimised and short-term, creative individuals attempt to introduce innovations and new approaches in every small project. If we look twenty years back, it might seem that Slovenia did not produce anything major or penetrating during that time. Nevertheless, the first twenty years of its existence is a fascinating compilation of projects that increased the variety of approaches and products marked by individually adapted design and where space and objects markedly act as generators of human experience.
The exhibition was prepared by an interdisciplinary group of curators led by Matevž Čelik. The architecture exhibits were selected by Jeff Bickert, Petra Čeferin, Matevž Čelik, Tadej Glažar and Bogo Zupančič. The design exhibits were chosen by Cvetka Požar, Špela Šubic, Maja Vardjan. The selection of photography exhibits was carried out by Primož Lampič.

Book
To mark the exhibition, MAO will publish a book entitled Oblikovanje republike: Arhitektura, oblikovanje in fotografija v Sloveniji 1991–2011 (Designing the Republic: Architecture, Design and Photography in Slovenia, 1991–2011). Contributions by Matevž Čelik, Primož Lampič, Cvetka Požar and Špela Šubic discuss the development of architecture, design and photography in Slovenia in the last two decades. The selection of works at the exhibition and in the book exemplifies the efforts to introduce changes that the curators believe provided the right answers at the right moment, which captured public attention and cannot be ignored today.

Films on architecture
An integral part of the exhibition will be short architecture films about six different buildings from the period. The film project entitled Small and Smart: Expressions of Contemporary Slovene Architecture in Film was curated by Jeff Bickert. The films were directed by Matjaž Ivanišin and Damjan Kozole of Emotion Film/Vertigo Production.

Exhibited artists
Architecture: A.biro, Ambient, Bevk Perović arhitekti, Dekleva Gregorič arhitekti, Nicholas Dodd, Enota, Peter Gabrijelčič, Tadej Glažar, Nande Korpnik, Jurij Kobe, Ana Kučan, Anton Lešnik, Viktor Markelj, Njirić+Njirić, Ofis arhitekti, Jože Peterkoč, Sadar+Vuga arhitekti, Scapelab in Bruto, Tomaž in Dušan Stupar, Martina Tepina, Arne Vehovar, Aleš Vodopivec, Maruša Zorec, Maša Živec.

Industrial design: Igor Akrapovič, Asobi, Bevk Perović arhitekti, Ivo Boscarol, Matevž Fortuna, Gigodesign,Tone Holbar, Jernej in Japec Jakopin, Jan Jagodič, Toni Kancilja, Robert Križnar, Franc Kuzma, Slavko Marcen, Nina Mihovec, Jure Miklavc, Rok Oblak, Oloop, Tanja Pak, Marko Pavlinec, Igor Rosa, Janez Smerdelj, Janez Suhadolc, Arne Vehovar, Žiga Volk, Nika Zupanc.

Visual communications: Gsus Ajax/AJAX Studio, Ajdin Bašić, Boštjan Botas Kenda, Metka Dariš in Tomaž Perme, Gigodesign, Ilovarstritar, Miha Klinar, Tomato Košir, Nino Kovačević, Miljenko Licul, Luks Studio, Matevž Medja, Ermin  Međedović, Mitja Miklavčič, Ranko Novak, Novi Kolektivizem, Robert Žvokelj.

Photography: Uroš Abram, Uroš Acman, Dragan Arrigler, Goran Bertok, Primož Bizjak, Rajko Bizjak, Tomo Brejc, Branko Cvetkovič, Luka Dekleva, Eclipse, Boris Farič, Boris Gaberščik, Tomaž Gregorič, Dejan Habicht, Barbara Jakše Jeršič, Stane Jeršič, Stojan Kerbler, Damjan Kocjančič, Matej Košir, Borut Peterlin, Dušan Pirih Hup, Herman Pivk, Boštjan Pucelj, Bojan Radovič, Bojan Salaj, Jane Štravs, Aleksandra Vajd, Franci Virant, Janez Vlachy, Manja Zore, Blaž Zupančič, Antonio Živkovič.

The MAO programme in year 2011 is supported by
Ministry of Culture RS
Trimo, d. d.
Impakta Les, d. o. o.
Gorenje, d. d.
Eclipse Print, d. o. o.

Media sponsors: Mladina, Ambient, Deloindom, Delo, Oris, Europlakat, Gem

Opening

Thursday, 30 June, 8 p.m.

Info

MAO, mao@mao.si, 00386 1 5484 280