Tension, 2025

TENSION, Križevniška Church, Festival Ljubljana, Slovenija
musqiutos net, polystyrene, enamels for metal, rocks, resistance bands for exercise

The exhibition installation within Križevniška Church (Church of our lady of mercy) proffers a perspicacious perspective on space, its interpretation founded upon the tenets of art history. The purpose behind the conception of this space is to serve as a location conducive to profound contemplation. For centuries, certain religious archetypes have unwittingly conjured up knowledge that has been handed down through the ages. This space is also part of some universal tension. This tension collects and releases. It thereby shapes thoughts. The prevailing sentiment is one of perpetual tension. Each phase of life is accompanied by a certain degree of tension, which the individual seeks to alleviate. The concept of art as a medium for the articulation of complex emotions and the dissemination of accumulated knowledge is a fundamental aspect of this process of release.

The following five objects, fabricated from contemporary materials, were placed in the space. The materials is synthetic, with a high level of usage and in significant quantities, occurring on a daily basis. Utilising their inherent properties, a transformation and supplementation of the items was effected, resulting in a novel aesthetic manifestation. This novel aesthetic can be observed in association with artifacts positioned within sacred spatial configurations.

At the entrance, a mesh curtain is deployed, functioning as a rood screen that ascends at three points, thereby establishing an inaugural intimate virtual space. The transparency of the structure is likely to appeal to the desire for intimacy. At the extremity of the central axis of the church, a combined composition of white polystyrene will be placed. The piece's volumetric qualities and the contrast between the polystyrene's alabaster hue and the altar's position are intended to evoke a sense of playfulness, thereby offering a contemporary interpretation of the stone's symbolic significance. This is a significant component of global belief systems. To the right of the central axis of the church, under the depiction of St. George, geometric figures rise from the ground. The composition's metallic appearance and geometry suggest an association with a remnant of St. George's discarded armor following his victory over the dragon. The tension created by the juxtaposition of natural stones in the left part of the central axis is accentuated by the application of coloured elastics. The tension between the stones is placed at the maximum point of stretching and resistance of the materials. One stone is wrapped with elastics to maintain the strength of the tension and establish a balance of power. It is posited that a central body emitting an aura of luminosity is situated in a suspended state from the ceiling, bearing resemblance to a pendulum in its configuration.