Igor Zabel Association for Culture and Theory

Igor Zabel Association for Culture and Theory Igor Zabel was an internationally renowned Slovenian curator and art historian (1958-2005).

Igor Zabel Association works with Igor Zabel’s - distinguished Slovene curator and art historian - heritage and supports art history and theory in the Central, Eastern, South Eastern Europe, and beyond. The Igor Zabel Association for Culture and Theory was founded in 2008 by Zabel family members and ERSTE Foundation with the objective to work with Igor Zabel’s heritage, highlight and evaluate the

importance and ongoing influence of his work, especially the work he performed in the field of visual arts, as well as to support art and cultural theory and contemporary curatorial practices in the Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe and beyond.

[Nerazložljiva odsotnost / Inexplicable Absence]Razstava Nerazložljiva odsotnost v Moderni galeriji na temelju petih Za...
12/11/2025

[Nerazložljiva odsotnost / Inexplicable Absence]

Razstava Nerazložljiva odsotnost v Moderni galeriji na temelju petih Zabelovih razstav obravnava ideje in vprašanja, ki jim je sledil v svojem delu.

Kustos Vladimir Vidmar na primeru razstave Individualni sistemi, ki jo je Zabel pripravil v sklopu 50. beneškega bienala, izpostavi vprašanje avtonomije umetnosti in kompleksnega razmerja med umetnostjo in družbeno realnostjo kot temo, ki je bistveno zaznamovala Zabelovo prakso nasploh. Kot še povzame, je z Individualnimi sistemi Zabel premišljal, kako lahko umetnost na sebi lasten način deluje v družbi v času, kjer se pogosto zdi “sekundarna, nevtralizirana ali kooptirana s strani vladajočih struktur”.

Razstava Nerazložljiva odsotnost. Po sledeh kuratorske prakse Igorja Zabela, s katero obeležujemo dvajseto obletnico smrti Igorja Zabela, je v Moderni galeriji na ogled še do 15. decembra! Vstop je prost.

/ENG/

The exhibition Inexplicable Absence at the Museum of Modern Art, Ljubljana, based on five of Zabel's exhibitions, explores the ideas and questions he pursued in his work.

Using the example of the exhibition Individual Systems, which Zabel prepared as part of the 50th Venice Biennale, curator Vladimir Vidmar highlights the issue of the autonomy of art and the complex relationship between art and social reality as a theme that significantly marked Zabel's practice in general. As he summarises, with Individual Systems, Zabel reflected on how art can function in society in its own way at a time when it often seems "secondary, neutralised or co-opted by ruling structures."

The exhibition Inexplicable Absence. Tracing Igor Zabel’s Curatorial Practice, which commemorates the twentieth anniversary of Zabel's death, is on display at the Museum of Modern Art in Ljubljana until 15 December! Admission is free.
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Moderna galerija

Vabljeni k ogledu izbranih utrinkov s posveta »Kam pelje Zabelova sled?«, ki smo ga organizirali skupaj z Moderno galeri...
04/11/2025

Vabljeni k ogledu izbranih utrinkov s posveta »Kam pelje Zabelova sled?«, ki smo ga organizirali skupaj z Moderno galerijo.

Dogodek je bil posvečen dvajseti obletnici smrti Igorja Zabela in je povezal razmišljanja o Zabelovem delu in vplivu z aktualnimi vprašanji umetnosti, njenega sistema in širšega družbenega konteksta.

🙏 Zahvaljujemo se sodelujočim Charlesu Escheju, Hani Ostan-Ožbolt-Haas, Christophu Barbeauju, Marku Jenku, Kaji Kraner in Maksu Valenčiču ter obiskovalcem za prispevek k razmisleku o njegovi zapuščini.

/ENG/

Browse through selected moments from the conference “Where Do Igor Zabel’s Traces Lead?”, which we co-organised with the Museum of Modern Art (MG+), below.

The event marked the twentieth anniversary of Igor Zabel’s death and brought together reflections on Zabel’s work and influence with current questions of art, its systems, and sociopolitical contexts.

🙏 We thank participants Charles Esche, Hana Ostan-Ožbolt-Haas, Christophe Barbeau, Marko Jenko, Kaja Kraner and Maks Valenčič, as well as visitors, for contributing to the ongoing discussion of his legacy.

📸 Asiana Jurca Avci, Moderna galerija

[Na današnji dan / On this day]Na današnji dan pred dvajsetimi leti se je v galeriji Storefront for Art and Architecture...
29/10/2025

[Na današnji dan / On this day]

Na današnji dan pred dvajsetimi leti se je v galeriji Storefront for Art and Architecture v New Yorku odprla razstava “Can Buildings Curate”, ki je vključevala tudi predstavitev razstave “Individualni sistemi”, ki jo je Igor Zabel kuriral v sklopu beneškega bienala leta 2003.

Razstava “Can Buildings Curate” je premišljala koncept galerijskega prostora od začetka 20. stoletja do sodobnega časa. Poleg predstavitve arhitekture in postavitve razstave “Individualni sistemi”, ki jo je v sodelovanju s Zabelom pripravil umetnik Josef Dabernig, je predstavljala dela umetnikov, arhitektov in kustosov, kot so Marcel Duchamp, Michael Asher, Lina Bo Bardi, Friedrich Kiesler, Yves Klein, El Lissitzky, Alexander Dorner, Vito Acconci & Steven Holl, Diller + Scofidio, Zaha Hadid arhitekti. Razstavo so kurirali Shumon Basar, Joshua Bolchover, Parag Sharma (Newbetter).

Razstava “Individualni sistemi” je vključena tudi na razstavo “Nerazložljiva odsotnost. Po sledeh kuratorske prakse Igorja Zabela”, ki bo v Moderni galeriji na ogled do 15. decembra.

/ENG/

Twenty years ago today, the “Can Buildings Curate” exhibition opened at the Storefront for Art and Architecture in New York. It also included the presentation of the “Individual Systems” exhibition, which Igor Zabel curated as part of the 2003 Venice Biennale.

The “Can Buildings Curate” exhibition explored the concept of a gallery space from the early 20th century to the present day. In addition to the presentation of architecture and the display of the “Individual Systems” exhibition that was prepared by artist Josef Dabernig in collaboration with Zabel, it featured works by artists, architects, and curators such as Marcel Duchamp, Michael Asher, Lina Bo Bardi, Friedrich Kiesler, Yves Klein, El Lissitzky, Alexander Dorner, Vito Acconci & Steven Holl, Diller + Scofidio, Zaha Hadid Architects. The exhibition was curated by Shumon Basar, Joshua Bolchover, and Parag Sharma (Newbetter).

The exhibition "Individual Systems" is also included in the "Inexplicable Absence. Tracing Igor Zabel’s Curatorial Practice" exhibition, which is on view in the Museum of Modern Art (Moderna galerija) in Ljubljana until 15 December.

📷 Z dovoljenjem / Courtesy of Storefront for Art and Architecture.

Pridružite se nam jutri, 24. oktobra, med 9.30 in 16.15, na posvetu ob 20. obletnici smrti Igorja Zabela v Moderni galer...
23/10/2025

Pridružite se nam jutri, 24. oktobra, med 9.30 in 16.15, na posvetu ob 20. obletnici smrti Igorja Zabela v Moderni galeriji v Ljubljani.

/ENG/

Join us for a one-day conference marking the twentieth anniversary of Igor Zabel's death on Friday, 24 October, between 9:30 and 16:15, at the Museum of Modern Art in Ljubljana.

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Posvet ob 20. obletnici smrti Igorja Zabela / Conference on the 20th anniversary of I. Zabel's death organizirata Moderna galerija, Ljubljana in Društvo Igor Zabel za kulturo in teorijo. / The conference is organised by the Museum of Modern Art, Ljubljana and the Igor Zabel Association for Culture and Theory.

Pridružite se nam jutri, 24. oktobra, med 9.30 in 16.15, na posvetu ob 20. obletnici smrti Igorja Zabela v Moderni galer...
23/10/2025

Pridružite se nam jutri, 24. oktobra, med 9.30 in 16.15, na posvetu ob 20. obletnici smrti Igorja Zabela v Moderni galeriji v Ljubljani.

🔗https://igorzabel.org/sl/novice/2025/posvet-igor-zabel

/ENG/

Join us for a one-day conference marking the twentieth anniversary of Igor Zabel's death on Friday, 24 October, between 9:30 and 16:15, at the Museum of Modern Art in Ljubljana.

🔗https://igorzabel.org/en/news/2025/conference-igor-zabel
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Posvet ob 20. obletnici smrti Igorja Zabela / Conference on the 20th anniversary of I. Zabel's death organizirata Moderna galerija, Ljubljana in Društvo Igor Zabel za kulturo in teorijo. / The conference is organised by the Museum of Modern Art, Ljubljana and the Igor Zabel Association for Culture and Theory.

Pridružite se nam v petek, 24. oktobra, na posvetu ob 20. obletnici smrti Igorja Zabela v Moderni galeriji v Ljubljani. ...
22/10/2025

Pridružite se nam v petek, 24. oktobra, na posvetu ob 20. obletnici smrti Igorja Zabela v Moderni galeriji v Ljubljani.

PANEL 1: ZABELOVE SLEDI DANES

𝟏𝟎.𝟎𝟎–𝟏𝟎.𝟏𝟓▪️Pozdravni nagovori
𝟏𝟎.𝟏𝟓–𝟏𝟎.𝟒𝟓▪️Charles Esche: Ponovno prebirati Zabela: vračanje k potencialom 1990tih in zgodnjih 2000tih
𝟏𝟎.𝟒𝟓–𝟏𝟏.𝟏𝟓▪️Hana Ostan-Ožbolt-Haas: Med prekinitvijo in kontinuiteto: vračanje h kuratorski in teoretski dediščini Igorja Zabela v času mnogoterih kriz
𝟏𝟏.𝟏𝟓–𝟏𝟏.𝟒𝟓▪️Christophe Barbeau: »Periferno, efemerno, naključno in poljubno«
𝟏𝟏.𝟒𝟓–𝟏𝟐.𝟑𝟎▪️Razprava, ki jo moderira Urška Jurman

PANEL 2: VRNITEV K MEDIJU?

𝟏𝟒:𝟎𝟎–𝟏𝟒:𝟑𝟎▪️Marko Jenko: Vprašanje nosilca
𝟏𝟒:𝟑𝟎–𝟏𝟓:𝟎𝟎▪️Kaja Kraner: Prehodnost, protokol in atmosfera: nekaj poudarkov o sodobni slovenski vizualni umetnosti
𝟏𝟓:𝟎𝟎–𝟏𝟓:𝟑𝟎▪️Maks Valenčič: Subjektivacija medija v teoriji-fikciji
𝟏𝟓:𝟑𝟎–𝟏𝟔:𝟏𝟓▪️Diskusija, ki jo moderira Vladimir Vidmar

🔗https://igorzabel.org/sl/novice/2025/posvet-igor-zabel

/ENG/

Join us for a one-day conference marking the twentieth anniversary of Igor Zabel's death on Friday, 24 October, at the Museum of Modern Art in Ljubljana.

PANEL 1: TRACING ZABEL TODAY

𝟏𝟎.𝟎𝟎–𝟏𝟎.𝟏𝟓▪️Introductory remarks
𝟏𝟎:𝟏𝟓–𝟏𝟎:𝟒𝟓▪️Charles Esche: Re-reading Zabel: Reclaiming Potentials of the 1990s and Early 2000s Some Thoughts on How to Read Igor Zabel in 2025
𝟏𝟎:𝟒𝟓–𝟏𝟏:𝟏𝟓▪️Hana Ostan-Ožbolt-Haas: Between Rupture and Continuity: Revisiting the Curatorial and Theoretical Legacy of Igor Zabel in a Time of Polycrises
𝟏𝟏:𝟏𝟓–𝟏𝟏:𝟒𝟓▪️Christophe Barbeau: “The Peripheral, Ephemeral, Accidental, and Arbitrary”
𝟏𝟏:𝟒𝟓–𝟏𝟐:𝟑𝟎▪️Discussion moderated by Urška Jurman

PANEL 2: RETURN TO THE MEDIUM?

𝟏𝟒:𝟎𝟎–𝟏𝟒:𝟑𝟎▪️Marko Jenko: A Matter of Support
𝟏𝟒:𝟑𝟎–𝟏𝟓:𝟎𝟎▪️Kaja Kraner: Transitivity, Protocol, and Atmosphere: Some Points on Contemporary Slovenian Visual Art
𝟏𝟓:𝟎𝟎–𝟏𝟓:𝟑𝟎▪️Maks Valenčič: Subjectifying Medium in Theory-Fiction
𝟏𝟓:𝟑𝟎–𝟏𝟔:𝟏𝟓▪️Discussion moderated by Vladimir Vidmar

🔗https://igorzabel.org/en/news/2025/conference-igor-zabel
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Posvet organizirata Moderna galerija, Ljubljana in Društvo Igor Zabel za kulturo in teorijo. / The conference is organised by the Museum of Modern Art, Ljubljana and the Igor Zabel Association for Culture and Theory.

[Na današnji dan / On this day]Na današnji dan pred dvajsetimi leti se je v razstavišču Mücsarnok v Budimpešti odprla ra...
19/10/2025

[Na današnji dan / On this day]

Na današnji dan pred dvajsetimi leti se je v razstavišču Mücsarnok v Budimpešti odprla razstava “Zbirka P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E. muzeja: Slovenska umetnost 1990ih”, ki je predstavila dela Jožeta Baršija, Mirka Bratuše, skupine Irwin, Dušana Kirbiša, Marko Kovačiča, Tadeja Pogačarja, Marjetice Potrč, Petre Varl Simončič in V.S.S.D.. Razstava je kasneje potovala tudi v Bochum ter v Moskvo.

Avtorja razstavnega projekta, Zdenka Badovinac in Igor Zabel, sta z obliko parazitskega muzeja, ki je naselil prostore drugih muzejev in institucij ter predstavljal fiktivno zbirko slovenske umetnosti 1990ih, obravnavala pomen in izraz tedanje sodobne umetnosti v Sloveniji. V besedilu v obrazstavnem katalogu je Igor Zabel dela na razstavi opredelil: “dela pogosto prisilijo opazovalca, da se približa, do bližine, ki spominja na njihovo običajno okolje: dnevne sobe, kuhinje, ulice in trgovine. In v tej bližini dela pripovedujejo o marginalnih zgodbah, ironičnih premikih, izzvanih in potlačenih željah.”

/ENG/

Twenty years ago today, the exhibition “The Collection of the P.A.R.A.S.I.T.E. Museum: Slovene Art of the 1990s” opened at the Mücsarnok Kunsthalle in Budapest, featuring works by Jože Barši, Mirko Bratuša, the Irwin group, Dušan Kirbiš, Marko Kovačič, Tadej Pogačar, Marjetica Potrč, Petra Varl Simončič, and V.S.S.D.. The exhibition later travelled to Bochum and Moscow.

The authors of the exhibition project, Zdenka Badovinac and Igor Zabel, used the form of a parasitic museum, which occupied the premises of other museums and institutions, and presented a fictional collection of Slovenian art from the 1990s to address the significance and expression of contemporary art in Slovenia at the time. In the exhibition catalogue Igor Zabel described the artworks: “the works often compel the observer to come closer, to a proximity which recalls their habitual environments: living rooms, kitchens, streets and shops. And in this proximity the works tell of marginal histories, ironic shifts, challenged and suppressed desires.”

Dokumentarni posnetek razstave / A documentary recording of the exhibition: https://mrezni-muzej.mg-lj.si/si/mreznimuzej/2/16/?artworkid=201
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Moderna galerija

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