Chus Martínez’s weekly column in Mousse Magazine
Discover the journey behind the 36th Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts by following "THE ORACLE: A Curatorial Diary from LJ", a weekly column by Artistic Director Chus Martínez.
Yussif Musah, The World Was Silent When We Died (2023), 35th Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts, From the void came gifts of the cosmos, 2023/2024, installation view at Cukrarna.
Foto: Jaka Babnik. Arhiv MGLC.
Protektorama (aLiveForm, fed and cared for by JP Raether), Protekto.x.x 5.5.5.1 Precipitation (2017), 34th Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts, Iskra Delta, 2021, installation view at TR3 Gallery.
Photo: Jaka Babnik. MGLC Archive.
Honza Zamojski, The Gathering and The Meeting (2019), 33rd Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts, Crack Up – Crack Down, 2019, installation view at DUM Project Space.
Photo: Jaka Babnik. MGLC Archive.
Carlos Monroy, Baphomet. One single birth made incarnate, performance at the opening of the 32nd Biennial of Graphic Arts Ljubljana, Birth as Criterion, 16 June 2017; Erica Ferrari, To whom does this architecture belong?, projection on the facade of MGLC.
Photo: Urška Boljkovac. MGLC Archive.
Pilar Quinteros, Cathedral of Freedom (2015), 31st Biennial of Graphic Arts, Over you/you, Ljubljana, 2015.
Photo: Urška Boljkovac. MGLC Archive.
Allora & Calzadilla, Intermission (Halloween Afganistan IV, V) (2012) (left); Vargas-Suarez Universal, Cosmic Codex (2013) (right); Gerhard Richter, Patterns (2011) (front), 30th Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts, Interruption, 2013, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Photo: Urška Boljkovac. MGLC Archive.
Tania Bruguera, Tatlin’s Whisper #5, performance at Cankarjev dom, on 16 November, 29th Biennial of Graphic Arts, The Event, Ljubljana, 2011, part Violence.
Photo: Jaka Babnik. MGLC Archive.
Swoon, Untitled (2009), 28th Biennial of Graphic Arts, Matrix: An Unstable Reality, Ljubljana, 2009, installation view at MGLC.
Photo: Bojan Velikonja. MGLC Archive.
Sašo Vrabič, 27th Biennial of Graphic Arts, The Unbound Eyes of Anxiousness, Ljubljana, 2007, installation view in a private apartment.
Photo: Bojan Velikonja. MGLC Archive.
Hanna Oinonen, Cover (2005) (front), Breathing (2005) (behind on the right); Tuija Arminen, Slow Down (2005) (behind on the left), selection: International Trienalle of Graphic Arts Graphica Creativa, Finland, 26th Biennial of Graphic Arts Ljubljana, Thrust, 2005, installation view at Tobačna Ljubljana.
Photo: Tomaž Lunder. MGLC Archive.
Allen Ruppersberg, Conversations 2003 (2003) (in front and right, platforms in space); Guest Publishers, Artists' Books (2000–2003) (left on a platform); Ivana Keser, Local News (1993–2003) (left); Erik Steinbrecher, Die Frisur und seine Frau (2001–2003) (middle); Raymond Pettibon, Plots on loan (2001) (right), 25th International Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 2003, installation view at Cankarjev dom Gallery.
Photo: Bojan Salaj. MGLC Archive.
Päivikki Kallio, Dialog (2001), 24th International Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 2001, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Photo: Igor Lapajne. MGLC Archive.
Lojze Logar, Albert & Tina (1999), 23rd International Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1999, installation view at Moderna galerija.
MGLC Archive.
22nd International Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1997, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Photo: Lado Mlekuž, Matija Pavlovec. Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
21th International Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1995, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Photo: Lado Mlekuž, Matija Pavlovec. Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
20th International Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1993, installation view at Moderna galerija.
MGLC Archive.
19th International Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1991, installation view at Moderna galerija.
MGLC Archive.
18th International Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1989, installation view at Moderna galerija.
MGLC Archive.
17th International Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1987, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
16th International Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1985, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
15th International Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1983, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
14th International Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1981, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
13th International Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1979, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
12th International Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1977, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
11th Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1975, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
10th Biennial of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1973, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
9th International Exhibition of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1971, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
8th International Exhibition of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1969, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
7th International Exhibition of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1967, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
6th International Exhibition of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1965, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
5th International Exhibition of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1963, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
4th International Exhibition of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1961, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
3rd International Exhibition of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1959, the flags of the countries participating in the Biennial Exhibition in front of Moderna galerija.
Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
2nd International Exhibition of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1957, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
1st International Exhibition of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, 1955, installation view at Moderna galerija.
Courtesy of Moderna galerija, Ljubljana.
Nothing preserves the right to dream and the freedom of being like art
As we gradually approach the end of 2024, we are also nearing the 36th Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts, celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2025. Counting down the months to its opening, we are talking to Chus Martínez, Artistic Director of next year’s Biennale, to better understand her position and get an insight into the thought process that is shaping the upcoming exhibition.
From Biennale to Biennale
The Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2025. In 2024, as part of the preparations for the anniversary year, we are already organising exhibition tours and a pre-Biennale discursive programme, which includes events, research residencies, writing on the history of the Biennale and editing Biennale publications.