At the end of the 28th Design Biennial, we invite you to join us at the Design Perspectives Symposium, which will take place on 27 March 2025, from 14.30 to 20.00 at the Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO).

Through a series of discussions, it will focus on three thematic strands – New Priorities, New Territories and New Stages – that will address current issues in the design profession, examine its expansion into new disciplines and analyse the ways in which it is communicated and mediated.

Programme:

Design Perspectives
March 27, 2025, 14.30–20.00

14.30 Introduction

14.40 New Priorities

Jan Boelen, Atelier LUMA

Tina Gregorič, Dekleva Gregorič arhitekti, TU Dunaj

Rok Kuhar, ALUO, Univerza v Ljubljani, Raketa

Justin McGuirk, Future Observatory, Design Museum London

Moderator: Maja Kolar

15.45 New Territories 

Aric Chen, Nieuwe Instituut

Dr. Barbara Predan, ALUO, Univerza v Ljubljani

Luka Stepan, Sito

Jane Withers, Jane Withers Studio

Moderator: Vera Sacchetti

17.00 New Stages

Ajdin Bašić, graphic designer

Thomas Geisler, Kunstgewerbe Museum, Dresden

Pia Groleger, Pjorkkala

Beatrice Leanza, cultural strategist and critic

Moderator: Kristina Dešman

18.20 Catering

19.00 Film premiere: El Último Grito: As Time Swallows Time and discussion.

To help with organization, please confirm your attendance by emailing bio@mao.si by Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

For BIO28 Double Agent: Do You Speak Flower?, El Último Grito continues their exploration of the language of a ‘film catalogue’, and the threshold between narrative fiction and academic archivism.

As Time Swallows Time is an experimental film exploring the biennial theme of Double Agent. On the one hand, inhabiting the biennial sites, it recounts the journey of Be becoming Poppy, as they encounter each other through time. On the other, it acts as a catalogue of the biennial itself, a collection of intertwined actions, moments, sights, triggers, and keepsakes reflecting on elements from the curatorial texts, as well as the exhibited works throughout the different sites.

The film will premiere in the Museum of Architecture and Design Ljubljana on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 7:00 PM. After the screening, there will be a discussion with the creators and BIO28 curator Alexandra Midal.

The film was produced as part of the design biennial BIO28 Double Agent: Do You Speak Flower?, curated by Alexandra Midal. BIO28 is organised by the Museum of Architecture and Design in collaboration with the Centre for Creativity. The production of the film was made possible with support from the British Council, HEAD – Genève, the European Union, the Republic of Slovenia, and other supporters.

The film was shot at the venues of BIO28 Double Agent: Do You Speak Flower? at MAO, ISIS Gallery, the Mala galerija Banke Slovenije, and Don’t Teach a Flower How to Bloom: the Urban Poster Project, as well as at other locations in Ljubljana.

Built on commission from the Khisl family in mid-16th century, Fužine Castle is the only remaining renaissance castle in Ljubljana. At the time of its construction it served as a proof of wealth, reputation and political powers of its first owners.

The castle changed hands already at the end of the century and then several times over the subsequent periods, which was all reflected in its building structure. An important addition was the hydroelectric power plant which was built in 1897 to serve the Vevče paper mill. Still operative today, the power plant is a unique example of technical history. In 1984, Fužine Castle was declared a cultural monument, and has been dedicated to museum activities and managed by the Museum of Architecture and Design since 1990. The castle is located in the Fužine area which received its name after the ironworks (Slovene: fužine) that were once operative on the river Ljubljanica.

The castle tour for english speakers will be given on last Saturday of every month at 11. a.m. by our associate Katarina Metelko.