Manifesta purposely strives to keep its distance from what are often seen as the dominant centres of artistic production, instead seeking fresh and fertile terrain for the mapping of a new cultural topography.
Gašper Kunšič, SI
Ornament. MDF, lacquer, rope 135 × 120 × 1.6 cm.
Gašper Kunšič’s practice draws on references from the countryside of his childhood, alongside folk motifs, pop culture and imagery from the post-Yugoslav and a broader diasporic Balkan context. Through spatial interventions, sculptures, paintings and works on paper, he transforms exhibition spaces into emotionally charged environments that subvert norms. Folk traditions, socialist monumentalism, and Catholic iconography are translated into graphic symbols and theatrical compositions that open space for queer readings. Moving between personal memory and collective imagination, he constructs new folklore worlds and their imaginings for those who do not belong.
Gašper on his work Ornament:
Initially appearing as a simple affirmation, Ornament gradually unveils political undertones, reflecting on queer visibility, belonging, and the social pressures of conformity. Originally conceived as a small, Christmas ornament–sized gift for friends and loved ones, the work circulated through acts of gifting. Passed among friends, it became a marker of resilience and queer resistance. While the exhibited work transforms the ornament into a public gesture directed toward a space and its community, this edition extends the work into the social sphere — to be carried forward through new friendships and gestures of connection.
More on the artwork and how to order it can be found via Gašper's website.