Katarina Kolenc: Vročinski val

𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐊𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜: 𝐕𝐫𝐨𝐜̌𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐤𝐢 𝐯𝐚𝐥
10. 7.-21. 8. 2025
Stekleni atrij ljubljanske Mestne hiše

📌Odprtje: četrtek, 10. 7. 2025, ob 19. uri
Vodstvo po razstavi s Katarino Kolenc in Mašo Žekš: ponedeljek, 11. 8., ob 18. uri

Vročinski val je v fotografskem opusu Katarine Kolenc serialna stalnica; polnostalgične in dopustniško zaznamovane podobe avtorica nadgrajuje že od leta 2022. Gre za serijo fotografij z lokalne obale, poležavanja na plaži, kopanja, veseljačenja in vsesplošne uživancije na poletnih počitnicah. Predstavljajo avtoričin antropološki, mestoma kritični, humorni in s fascinacijo navdani pogled na mainstream preživljanje prostega časa na plaži. Osrčje razstave predstavlja izredno priljubljen, na družbenih omrežjih vseprisoten napihljiv flamingo v izraziti rožnati barvi; predmet, ki bi zlahka simboliziral esenco brezskrbnega pop poletja, udobno plavajoče življenje na napihljivem, neproblematičnem plamencu. Tik pod stropom galerije se mu pridružujejo še krokodil, pisane žoge in blazine, predimenzionirani krofi in nasmejani samorogi. Nepregledna, na obalo zgrinjajoča se množica nastopa kot stereotipna (za naravo škodljiva) potrošniška družba. Naslov serije se navezuje tako na lastnosti tipičnega poletja kot tudi na siceršnje (s kapitalizmom in zlorabo zaznamovano) globalno segrevanje. Seriji pripovedujeta o smislu življenja (ležanje na plaži) in vzporednem uničevanju le-tega skozi prizmo ogljičnega odtisa, masovnega turizma in davljenja okolja s kičasto plastiko.
Maša Žekš

𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐊𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜(1994) je diplomirala iz fotografije na Fakulteti za aplikativne vede (VIST) v Ljubljani. Njeni avtorski projekti izhajajo iz dokumentarnega beleženja vsakdanjih trenutkov življenja in malenkostnih posebnosti njene okolice, ki jih kasneje razvije v obliki dokumentarnih in/ali konceptualnih zgodb. Vročinski val (prvi del) je avtorica že razstavila na nekaj skupinskih (Galerija ZDSLU, festival FOTOVIZIJE idr.) ter samostojnih razstavah (DobraVaga, Carinarnica), Vročinski val (drugi del) pa lansko leto na festivalu Reciklart na skupinski razstavi v Galeriji Alkatraz. V Steklenem atriju Mestne hiše sta seriji prvič prikazani skupaj in vizualno zaokroženi. V zadnjem letu se avtorica loteva tem, povezanih s kolektivnim spominom, in trenutno svojo novo serijo predstavlja na Sarajevo Photography Festival.

Naslovna fotografija: Katarina Kolenc
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𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐊𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜: 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞
10. 7.-21. 8. 2025
Glass Atrium, Ljubljana Town Hall

📌Opening of the exhibition: Thursday, 10 July 2025, 7 pm
Guided tour of the exhibition with Katarina Kolenc and Maša Žekš: Monday, 11 August 2025, 6 pm

The heatwave has been a constant in Katarina Kolenc’s photographic work since the artist began working and building on semi-nostalgic and holiday-tinged images in 2022. The series of photographs on display conveys the artist’s anthropological, sometimes critical, humorous, and fascinated perception of mainstream leisure on the beach, showcasing the local coastline, beach lounging, swimming, merrymaking, and generally enjoying the summer holidays. The heart of the exhibition is an inflatable flamingo in bright pink, a hugely popular object that still seems ubiquitous on social media platforms and could easily symbolise the essence of a carefree pop summer: a comfortable life floating on an inflatable, trouble-free flamingo. Suspended just below the gallery ceiling, it is joined by a crocodile, colourful balls and pool floats, oversized doughnuts, and smiling unicorns. The inexhaustible crowds that flock to the shore appear as a stereotypical (environmentally damaging) consumer society. The title of the series, therefore, refers both to the features of a typical summer and to (capitalist- and exploitation-driven) global warming at large. The two series are about the meaning of life (lying on the beach – as a famous Slovenian pop song goes, translator’s note) and its parallel destruction in terms of carbon footprint, mass tourism, and choking the environment with plastic gimcrack.
Maša Žekš

𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐊𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜 (1994) graduated in photography from the Faculty of Applied Sciences (VIST) in Ljubljana. Her projects are based on documenting everyday moments of life and the little peculiarities of her surroundings, which she later develops into documentary and/or conceptual stories. Heatwave (Part One) has already been exhibited in several group (ZDSLU Gallery, FOTOVIZIJE festival, etc.) and solo exhibitions (DobraVaga, Carinarnica), while Heatwave (Part Two) was shown last year in the Reciklart festival group exhibition at the Alkatraz Gallery. The display in the Glass Atrium of the City Hall is the first time the two series are shown together and as a visual whole. Over the past year, the artist has been exploring themes related to collective memory and is currently presenting her new series at the Sarajevo Photography Festival.

Cover photo: Katarina Kolenc