Here’s our second take on the recent invasion wave of Invader’s mosaic artworks.
In Part II we take a closer look at Invader’s new wave of urban mosaics in Ljubljana, especially those pixelated images that will be harder to find as they are located far outside the Old Town.
For those who want to flesh the pieces in the outskirts of Ljubljana, some friendly advice: the easiest way – and environmentally friendly – to get to the invaded spots off the beaten path is by bike. Allow yourself a full afternoon to explore the pixelated art and learn about the context of the invaded buildings.
To help you navigate the streets of Ljubljana, we have prepared a brief summary of invasions – any feedback or questions are welcome in the comments section below!
Check the Invader's Street Art TourInvader's LJU_28 meets socialist modernism 2021 © Institute for Urban Question / Nejc Ketiš
Invasion of Ljubljana’s Cultural Quarters
It seems that Invader’s urban acupuncture technique waved together a unique network of important cultural institutions in Ljubljana, which we enjoyed visiting regularly in the pre-pandemic period times.
Let’s start in Šiška, a district of Ljubljana just 15 minutes by bike from the center. One of the most populous districts of the city is located in northwest and is defined by the Celovška Street thoroughfare. Šiška has some eye-catching modernist architecture and boasts numerous cultural monuments worth visiting. A short list includes churches designed by architect Jože Plečnik, the walkway Trail of Remembrance and Comradeship, or several socialist monuments commemorating the revolution (our favorite is the Monument to Freedom by architect Vinko Glanz – address: Celovška cesta 148).
Šiška today is also known for its epicenter of urban culture Kino Šiška – Centre for Urban Culture. A former cinematograph was inaugurated in 2008 as a centre for contemporary and urban creativity. The venue is dedicated to indie rock, rap, metal, electronic, contemporary jazz, and other music genres and festivals. It also serves for theatre, dance, performance and experimental productions, as well as for exhibitions and conferences (by the way, this June we are organizing the annual Street Art Conference with Kino Šiška).
Referring to the Slovenian Computer History Museum, recently relocated in Šiška, Invader left a pixelated image of a computer attached with cement to the facade of Kino Šiška. If you head from Kino Šiška towards the city centre, look up at the sky – and you might spot another invasion.
At Kino Šiška 2021 © Institute for Urban Question / Nejc Ketiš
We now transfer ourselves to the eastern part of the city, to the district of Moste. The neighborhood runs parallel to Ljubljanica River so just follow course of the river and you will eventually come across this former village. Moste and the adjacent areas have a strong history of workers’ struggles and are home to some of the most fascinating industrial heritage buildings, including Cukrarna (take a look around and perhaps the motif of a bat will remind you of the historic spirit of the former sugar refinery, which is now being reconstructed).
The next monumental building in Moste is the Španski Borci Cultural Centre, which hosts a number of performing and visual arts productions. In addition to a permanent gallery space, a library and monuments commemorating the Spanish Fighters, Španski Borci is home to the renowned international contemporary dance troupe EnKnapGroup. Španski Borci is also the organizer of the annual Moste Open festival in the Moste market, which connects the local cultural, ecological, musical, and youth scenes. The pixelated fruits of the thriving cultural and artistic scene are visible on the facade of the surrounding building.
Veggies and fruit at Moste market 2021 © Institute for Urban Question / Nejc Ketiš
The patterning of cultural institutions continues in the Old Town and beyond. Be sure to circle around the galleries, theaters and experimental arts venues to find the other invasions – and stay tuned for more updates on our Instagram.
Your feedback or questions are welcome in the comments section below!
Alert! LJU_39 2021 © Institute for Urban Question / Nejc Ketiš