ZDRAVLJICA

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IRWIN is the name of a collective of Slovenian artists founded in 1983. The group formed part of a larger movement including the band Laibach, and the Scipion Nasice Theatre which called itself NSK, an acronym for Neue Slowenische Kunst — New Slovenian Art in English. The aim of the group was to create a constantly evolving aesthetic project where ideas would cross-fertilize and produce interesting hybridities. A retrospective of the collective’s continuing provocations and conceptual adventures is in progress at Calvert 22 Gallery in Shoreditch.

from “Ti, Ki Izzivas” video

cillian ’ pocket sized ’ murphy

Jurjevanje is an old Spring custom in Slovenia. It takes place on the 23rd or 24th of April, as the old pagan god, whose return from the underworld people were celebrating, got united with the image of St George during the Christianisation. On this day groups of young people from the villages gather and go from house to house, led by a young man, who represents Zeleni Jurij (Green George). He is covered in greenery of the newly grown green leaves of birches and carries a small tree or a stick, decorated with the flowers and colourful ribbons in his hand. When they come to a house, they sing the song about Zeleni Jurij, in which they ask the owners of the household for the offerings, usually consisting of food or money. If they receive them, the housewife can take a twig from the Zeleni Jurij’s costume and put it on the roof, where it would bring luck to the house. If the group is denied the offerings, they throw a twig over the house and curse it. 

february 2015

Maraaya on the red carpet of the Eurovision Song Contest Opening Ceremony

Slovene partisans with their friends, May 10th 1945.

Bohinj, Slovenja (by LuePhoto)

Laibach

Dejan Knez, utemeljitelj skupine Laibach i središnja figura umjetničkog pokreta NSK, oko 1980.