Within every creative production there is undoubtedly a central development line epitomizing the dominant trends in the medium at a given time and place, accompanied by a host of parallel, equally relevant phenomena and practices that may—and in fact should—be treated and evaluated in accordance with specific criteria and pertinent comparative analyses. Their feasibility, however, rests on a paradigm of continuity, allowing us to identify deviations, innovations, alternatives and other production niches that round off the actual photographic constellation. Consequently, this exhibition has primarily been conceived as a critical attempt to expose the mainstream within which Slovenian photography is historicised alongside individual contributions of its makers.

The attitude towards the photographic medium as an autonomous creative practice underwent radical changes at the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Earlier, photography was considered a self-sufficient enclave that did not encroach onto other visual arts. Since the aforementioned years were crucial for many Slovenian photographers as well, it seems only reasonable to open this overview with their subsequent accomplishments. These photographers were followed by the generation born between 1950 and 1960 and then by the companions of punk and the alternative scene in general, which filled the (also socially) supercharged eighties with new themes and expressions. Younger artists came to the fore and established themselves in the independent Slovenia. Some of them had pursued their education abroad, others in study programs that have recently been introduced into various Slovenian colleges and faculties. To this curatorial concept a segment of selected works of some Slovenian photographers who pursue successful careers abroad was added.

Whereas every selection is admittedly subjective, this certainly does not mean that it is also arbitrary. It is, among others, one of the reasons that we have focused on photographers whose artistic identity has been established and confirmed by long years of committed research and self-reflection. The exhibition likewise does not include representatives of the youngest generation still searching for the modalities in which to articulate their own language and often oscillate between trends, paragons and their own aspirations. Their ambitions and achievements would be best revealed by an exhibition styled “Young Slovenian Photography”—provided that someone manages to muster the willpower and courage to develop the concept and bring it to realization…

LET'S GO FORWARD! Slovenian Photography 1990-2015

Artists presented at the exhibition: Dragan Arrigler, Primož Bizjak, Rajko Bizjak, Bojan Brecelj, Jure Breceljnik, Božidar Dolenc, Jure Eržen, Saša Fuis, Boris Gaberščik, Tomaž Gregorič, Irena Herak, Lado Jakša, Manca ...