In Stasis. The State of an Island

During the Summer semester of 2024, IZK - Institute for Contemporary Art offered two specialization modules - In Stasis. The State of an Island and The State of Things. On collective Filmmaking. Sharing a common theme, the courses focused on built landscapes, seascapes, histories, and political contexts of the Brijuni archipelago. The format of the courses was based on international collaboration and shared lectures, excursions, and exchange among students and staff with the Research Department for Spatial Design, Vienna University of Technology, the Professorship of Architecture and Territorial Planning, ETH Zurich, and the MA City Design, Royal College of Art, London.

In Stasis. The State of an Island

Art-Based Investigation Specialisation module

Lecturer: Milica Tomić

IZK-Institute for Contemporary Art

In this course, students engaged with the Brijuni archipelago as a built landscape shaped by changes in political and military histories from the Roman Empire to the Non-Aligned Movement and now the European Union. Students explored the Brijuni Islands, thinking with the islands’ surface and seafloor to transform our understanding of the political history of the archipelago, connecting it to the deep time of evolution and migration of marine life forms. We delved into these intertwined human and plant life histories in the terraqueous zone while exploring care and repair practices toward Reparation Architecture (P. Tavares). Viewing Brijuni as a living exhibition, students displayed its visible and hidden nature and history, architecture, natural objects, and artifacts. They reflected on what to preserve or leave and how to interpret these components for the future. We blended art, architecture, and exhibition design and engaged in land art, documentary practices, and material history. Aimed to uncover and intervene in the site’s narrative, students transformed their research into an exhibition that reflects Brijuni’s complex space and history.

Dates:

March-May

Tuesday13:00-15:00

Friday 13:00-15:00

Field Recording April 12-April 15. 2024

Excursion May 13-May 17. 2024

Collaboration partners:

Milica Tomić, Philipp Sattler, IZK - Institute for Contemporary Art, Graz University of Technology

Wilfried Kuehn, Marko Lulić, Wassily Walter, Research Department for Spatial Design, Vienna University of Technology

Milica Topalović, Professorship of Architecture and Territorial Planning, ETH Zurich

Dubravka Sekulić, MA City Design, Royal College of Art, London

Classroom Collaboration and Excursion to Brijuni