The opening of the 33rd Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts

The International Centre for Graphic Arts (MGLC) is hosting already the 33rd Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts, Crack Up – Crack Down this year. On this occasion, the curatorial baton is brandished by the internationally established Slavs and Tatars art collective. The central theme of one of the oldest such events in the world this time is satire and humour. This year’s Biennial explores the ways in which graphic language stimulates the emergence of satire as an extremely resilient and topical form of criticism through the use of irony and ridicule. Even though the historical paths of the graphic arts and satire are distinctly different, both unanimously claim to speak for and to the people. The selected artists use their own unique approaches and hence acquaint us with the contemporary artistic currents.

The exhibition of the Grand Prize recipient of the 32nd Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts presents Alejandro Paz from Guatemala at the Plečnik House. A new aspect of this year’s Biennial is the Metabolic Museum-University, which will attempt to stimulate the visual thinking and creativity of participants in original ways, encouraging visual thinking through contradictory and witty situations. An assorted accompanying programme takes care of the diversity of the Biennial’s life. The exhibition unfolds at nine leading venues for contemporary art in Ljubljana and hence also illuminates the creative pulse of the city.

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Woody De Othello, Warm Welcome, 2019; ceramic, glaze, underglaze, multiple components; 50.8×91.44×152.4 cm.
Courtesy of the artist and Jessica Silverman Gallery.