In Vitro.jpg
In Vitro (2015), Installation, various materials, various sizes, Scanned Sand

Briefly describe the work you do.

I am an artist and a geographer. In order to communicate my ideas I fuse sculpture, installation, land art and photography. A multimedia practice offers me a chance to establish a learning connection with the past and the notion of procreative dwelling in space: a characteristic of human nature from which my work aspires and the legacy that it embraces.

Tell us about your background and how that has had an influence on your work and on you as an artist.

Geography training made me aware that society can benefit from the multidisciplinary discourses, which have lately become obscure, while sciences are more as ever before inclined towards the diversification and specialization of knowledge. My objective is to use the multidisciplinary approach and present my findings to a brother audience.

I study the contemporary landscape, the human imprint and the impact of image culture on the landscape’s ontology. Traditionally speaking it seems society and the nature are still caught in an splitting duality, while in an increasingly urbanized world such duality seems rather inappropriate and outdated, while both society and the nature are two components of environment.

The concept of the artist studio has a broad range of meanings in contemporary practice. Artists may spend much of their time in the actual studio, or they may spend very little time in it. Tell us about your individual studio practice and how it differs from or is the same as traditional notions of “being in the studio.”

My work begins in the landscape, which is my biggest inspiration. Later I try to transpose parts of the landscape in to the studio or the presentation space. For me studio is a space where I conduct my research and finalise the work, while the work and the process is greatly influenced by the landscape.

Scanned Sand, Herschel Island (2013), scan, archival inkjet print, 120 x 100cm

What roles do you find yourself playing that you may not have envisioned yourself in when you first started making art?

I wanted to become a photographer. The romantic notion of wonderer with the camera attracted me. Then I realised I can achieve much more than that if I make actual objects. I now always make everything myself.

When do you find is the best time to make art? Do you set aside a specific time everyday or do you have to work whenever time allows?

I always work in phases. Sometimes I just read and write what I want to work, such periods can last for months. After the idea crystallises I execute the work, what often makes me tired. During the day I love to work in the morning and go to sleep early in the evening.

Volcanos 5 (2014), photograph, archival inkjet print, 60 x 45cm

How has your work changed in the past five years? How is it the same?

It aspires from the same interest how humanity inhibits the landscape. As I am still a young artist I cannot really reflect on that, because I only started making art three years ago. What is different is the sincerity with which I approach the projects.

How have people such as family, friends, writers, philosophers, other artists or even pop icons had an impact on the work you do?

My work is greatly inspired by geography thinkers such as David Harvey.

Have you ever been pulled in the direction of a pursuit other than being an artist? What are your other interests? 

I like building and making things from scratch, so I was always drawn to simple work like construction. I really like to work outside in the garden or on a farm. From leisure activity I enjoy mountain hiking and camping the most.

About

I was born in Slovenia in 1989. After high school I enrolled to University of Ljubljana, where I studied geography. During the study I became increasingly interested in photography and art. I have graduated with a thesis that pioneered the theory of the use of the archival photographic materials in Slovenian geography. After the bachelor I enrolled to Master of photography at AKV St. Joost in Breda The Netherlands, where I graduated as top of the class with the work In Vitro. Currently I reside and work in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.  

aljazcelarc.org

All images copyright of the artist and used with their permission.