Second part of our guided visits in Maribor focused on individuals who significantly contribute to the diversity of the local and regional scene. In the morning, we got to know Mariborka library, run by poet, writer and columnist Anja Zag Golob, assisted by Ive Žele. Mariborka is super cosy place and it is locally special, not only because of its exceptional range of selected book titles, but also because of its activist stance, as it is a strong player in the fight primarily for human rights, and then also for members of the LGBT group.
Over tea, Anja shared anecdotes from the city and her personal career, introduced us to some current titles, and introduced some younger authors.
After visiting the library, we met Irena Borić, an independent curator who moved from Zagreb to Maribor years ago, from where she works internationally. Irena curates mainly in the field of intermedia art, organizes events, and has established herself as an important part of the Maribor visual art scene. Then we met Jure Kirbiš, also a curator of the younger generation, who decided to return to his city after studying in England and is currently one of the more progressive young curators in Slovenia. In addition to the Maribor Art Gallery, he regularly collaborates with various associations and institutions as a guest curator. Jure gave us a short lecture on the history and art history of Maribor and looked back at today's goals and ambitions.
After a short break, we met Nataša Berk, an artist who welcomed us into her very vivid studio. Nataša is a photographer and contemporary artist who has marked the art scene with her frequent manipulations with personal identity, where she has transformed into fictional characters in various situations, be it a curator, a critic or simply another artist. She has been censoring her face in public for more than a decade, as a statement. We talked to Nataša about the challenges of creating and making a living in the art world, which takes place in a decentralized context of Maribor. During the chat, we were also visited by jazz musicians who were preparing for an evening concert.
