To the human eye, the universe may appear distant, empty, or even non-existent. However, it is full, rich, and all-encompassing. When the starry sky embraces us on clear nights, we become aware that we belong to it. All elements within it are individuals, yet they mutually influence each other and co-create energies. The sun is a metaphor for life and it is life itself. All beings on the planet draw their energy from the universe. The solar rhythm is the daily and annual rhythm of life on Earth, persisting for billions of years. The universe weaves energies together. It also interweaves suns. It expands creative universes (Sun, Solar Life, Iron Sun, and Radiance), which, like planets on the central chimney of the former ironworks, form one galaxy. The melting of iron ore and the ironworks industry have profoundly shaped the space in which the chimney stands. Just as the sun is a prerequisite for life on our planet, this physical space has inspired the creation of the work(s) at hand. The imposing chimney, with its sides gazing in all directions of the sky, is in the shadow during the cold part of the year, when a mountain casts its shadow on the entire Stara Sava ironworks settlement. The sun does not shine into this valley for a long time... but on Candlemas, the first rays of sunshine shine upon the church tower, announcing the beginning of the warm part of the year. The universe of suns plays with metaphors, symbols, stories, and the physical world, which can be raw and heavy at times, but it becomes softened as it is illuminated by sunlight.
Photo: Maša Pirc / BIEN 2023
The Contemporary Textile Center Kreativnice has been operating in Škofja Loka since 2018, at Spodnji trg in the old town. It brings together textile designers who express themselves through various textile techniques, ranging from felting, weaving, hand sewing, and plant-based textile dyeing to printing. The creative workspace, which also serves as an exhibition and sales studio, puts an emphasis on textile design, the use of natural materials, and handmade crafts. It fosters collaboration among individual creators, seeks synergies between them, and facilitates the exchange of their practices. The members of the Contemporary Textile Center Kreativnice include Lili Panjtar, Nina Vastl Štefe, Anja Musek, and Silva Horvat.
