Fifth Scientific Conference of the Department of Theoretical Studies at UL ALUO

The Academy of Fine Arts and Design of the University of Ljubljana (UL ALUO) invites you to the fifth scientific conference of the Department of Theoretical Studies, titled THEORETICAL INTERWEAVINGS BETWEEN VISUAL CREATIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY DISCOURSES. The conference will take place on Wednesday, 25 September 2024, from 10:00 to 16:00, at the Auditorium of the National Gallery, entrance at Cankarjeva 20, Ljubljana.

This year’s conference focuses on exploring the role of visual creativity within the discourse on sustainable development. The decline in quality and the devaluation of the living environment—caused by human activity on both local and global levels—calls for reflection on the principles behind such harmful changes in the natural and social environment, the ways to address their consequences, and the search for more sustainable approaches. In this context, sustainable activities and practices are those that can be carried out in the long term without depleting resources or causing harm to the environment, society, or economy. Such practices aim to balance economic development, environmental protection, and social well-being, addressing present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own.

How can we identify sustainable concepts and challenges through art? To what extent, and in what ways, are visual arts practices—such as art education and visual literacy, exhibiting, and conservation-restoration—oriented towards more sustainable action? Which artists adopt sustainable approaches and forms of communication, and how? The contributions of participating researchers, scholars, and artists shed light on sustainability in visual creativity from a wide range of perspectives. Some prompt deeper reflection on the formation of awareness and emotional responses that lead to greater care and responsibility; others explore practical methods of achieving more sustainable artistic practices. A recurring theme among many contributions is the understanding that recycling or the adapted reuse of synthetic and natural materials is one of the most frequent manifestations of sustainable approaches in visual art practices.

All are warmly invited to attend — there is no participation fee and no registration required!

You can read more about the conference in the accompanying scientific publication in the attachment below.

SPEAKERS:

Uršula Berlot Pompe, UL ALUO
Rock Finale, BCN VSŠ
Petja Grafenauer, UL ALUO
Nataša Ivanović, Lah Museum / UL ALUO
Marija Jenko, UL NTF
Ana Kocjančič
Miloš Kosec, UL FA
Kaja Kraner, UL ALUO
Barbara Predan, UL ALUO
Blaž Šeme, UL ALUO
Nadja Zgonik, UL ALUO

Organisation: UL ALUO in collaboration with the University of Ljubljana Institute for Sustainable Heritage Preservation

The scientific conference is organised as part of the research project Heritage for an Inclusive Sustainable Transformation – HEI-TRANSFORM (J7-4641) and is partly co-funded by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS). It is also partly funded through the pilot project Developing Competences of (Future) Educators to Promote the Green Transition, Sustainable Development, and Environmental Literacy in Early Childhood (ULTRA 5.01-1554) by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union (NextGenerationEU).