Julij Borštnik, who is presenting his retrospective exhibition Basic Bricks at the Alkatraz Gallery, will also exhibit his work at the smallest galleries, Channel Zero, on the 32nd anniversary of AKC Metelkova mesto. While the retrospective exhibition features several years of the artist's work, which focuses on the economic dimension of the capitalist system and confronts expert interpretations with the reality of the historical development of social processes, Julij Borštnik will present sketches of a project in progress at the smallest galleries.

Julij Borštnik studied physics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics in Ljubljana (he completed three years) and in 2001, transferred to sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design at the University of Ljubljana, where he graduated in 2007. In 2005, he received the ESSL Award, an international award for artists, and in 2006, he received the Prešeren Award for students. In the same year, he participated in the U3 Triennial of Contemporary Slovenian Art. In 2008, he enrolled in the postgraduate study of philosophy, which is carried out by the Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts in cooperation with the University of Nova Gorica.

Already during his studies of sculpture, he clearly demonstrated the connection between his artistic practice and his intensive study of theory: philosophy and economics, economic history, social theory, art history, general history and anthropology. His contemplative approach to the relationship between art and theory has often been expressed in skilful and previously unseen works of art. In his works, he articulates the logic of prevailing economic processes and the principles of change in social reality. With the aim of illuminating the logic and maneuvering potential of the transitional period in which we find ourselves.

He works in the media of sculpture, sculptural installations in space, visual 2D and 3D conceptual schemes, documentary film, video, animation and illustrated performance. Moreover, during his studies, he also took a proactive approach to ensuring the organizational and infrastructural conditions for artistic creation: From 2003 to 2011, he actively participated in the pioneering project of establishing the international residential Art Centre in Goričko. At the end of 2006, together with Nataša Serec, Vita Žgur and Zdravko Pravdič, he co-founded the residential Studio Asylum in AKC Metelkova mesto in Ljubljana, which he co-managed with Nataša Serec until 2019. In 2016, together with sculptors Katja Oblak and Anja Kranjc and in collaboration with the Cultural Centre, he co-founded the Art School at the Nova Gorica City Gallery.

The main artwork cycles:

  • Basic bricks of logic.

  • Phase transitions.

  • The future of work.

  • Nature and me.

  • Collaborations with Katja Oblak.

Teaching:

  • Science through art, an innovative approach to teaching key scientific concepts through art, play and manual creativity, since 2020.

  • Teaching sculpture, drawing, painting and animation at the Art School in the Nova Gorica City Gallery, since 2016.

Teaching sculpture, art and art history at the Mikl House Gallery, Art Education Centre (LICE) in Ribnica, since 2011.

  • KipiGibi series of art workshops for children in collaboration with Katja Oblak, from 2012 to 2015.

Collaboration in the implementation of several-day workshops for students of the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana, within the framework of the residential Art Centre, from 2008 to 2011.

Awards:

  • ESSL Award 2005, international award for artists.

  • Prešeren Award for students, 2006.

  • Murko Award of the Slovenian Ethnological Society for the permanent exhibition Me, Us and Others at the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum, part of which consists of metal sculptures designed in collaboration with Katja Oblak, 2010.