Robertina Sebjanic. Juried Artist
SAE
Artist Statement
Co_Sonic 1884 km² is a visual-poetic reflection and an AI-powered soundscape, that tells the story of (co)existence of river environments and their inhabitants. The project brings us closer to the life of river flora and fauna while drawing attention to the problematic nature of human control over the aquatic environment. By moving away from an anthropocentric view of the world, the artist reveals a new perspective on the Ljubljanica River and its ecosystem. Throughout history, the Ljubljanica has wormed its way below and above the surface. Unaware that they are the same river, people have given different names to each of the above-ground parts of the river.
Co_Sonic1884 km² shows its water body through the prism of its integral whole.
Co_Sonic 1884 km² is a document of the current times in which rivers are becoming powerless due to human intervention. It calls on us to build empathy for ‘non-human’ entities and to adopt strategies for ecological development for a time when our generation will be long gone.
About the artists
Robertina Šebjanič (Ljubljana)- https://robertina.net/ – is an awarded and internationally exhibited artist/researcher whose work explores the biological, chemical, (geo)political and cultural realities of aquatic environments and the impact of humanity on other organisms. In her analysis of the Anthropocene and its theoretical framework, the artist uses the terms “aquatocene” and “aquaforming” to refer to the human impact on aquatic environments. Her works received awards and nominations at Prix Ars Electronica, Starts Prize, Falling Walls, RE: Humanism.
She has exhibited/performed at solo and group exhibitions as well as in galleries and at festivals: Ars Electronica (Linz), Kosmica festival – Laboratorio Arte Alameda (Mexico City), Matadero (Madrid), La Gaîté Lyrique (Paris), Le Cube (Paris), MONOM, CTM (Berlin), Art Laboratory Berlin, ZKM (Karlsruhe), re:publica (Berlin), Mladi Levi (Ljubljana), Cukrarna (Ljubljana), Centro de Cultura Digita (Mexico City,) Device art and Touch me festival_Kontejner (Zagreb), Museum of Contemporary Art Belgrade – MoCAB, Eastern Bloc (Montreal), Eyebeam (New York), Palais des Beaux-Arts BOZAR (Bruselj), CAAM – Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno, Grand Canaria, Museum of Contemporary Art Zagreb MSU, Museum of Contemporary Art Ljubljana +MSUM and more.
Credits: CO_SONIC 1884 km² Artist (concept, sound & photo & video editing, execution): Robertina Šebjanič Photo and video recording on the field: Miha Godec, Robertina Šebjanič A.I. programming of audio: Moisés Horta Valenzuela Voice: Polona Torkar, Zagi Zornada Comminsion / Production of audio-video installation: Cukrarna Gallery 2021 / 2022 (Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana) Producer: Janja Buzečan Co-production: Sektor Institute, Aqatocene Studio Special thanks: to 1884 km2 of riverbasin and the rivers, streams and lake: Trbuhovica, Obrh, Stržen, Cerkniško jezero, Rak, Pivka, Unica, Ljubljanica. https://robertina.net/co-sonic-1884-km2-so-zvocje-1884-km2/