The Slovenian Independent Illustrators' Biennial – The Independent Biennial

Biennial of Slovenian Independent Illustration – Independent Biennial is presenting an international selection for the first time. The selection took place through an open call and via invitation, which was initially prepared by Biennial partners in Croatia and Serbia.
With the presentation of an international ensemble of predominantly newcomers, the platform of the Independent Biennial is systemically expanding outside the borders of Slovenia with this ground-breaking exhibition. With the latter, we want to ignite a spark of interest in both the domestic and foreign audiences, which we are continuously growing through our initiatives. 

Since its inception in 2007, the Biennial of  Slovenian Independent Illustration - Independent Biennial has managed to prove the exceptional quality of Slovenian visual production, the recognition of which was slowly built through academic circles and design and art institutions. The authors of the previous edition of the Independent Biennial, who inherit the selection and choose their successors, in that way mark the exposed production of the next generation and its authors. Through this specific horizontal participatory selection process, the initiator Saša Kerkoš and the Tretaroka Association excluded the classical curatorial element and returned the voice to the creatives themselves. More than 14 years of existence in the Slovenian visual illustration environment, the two-year editions have been widely accepted by professionals who work at the crossroads of various visual practices and managed to map and archive them through more than a hundred public events of educational, promotional and connecting nature.
With the internationalization, the Independent Biennial puts itself in the broader context of the Eastern, Balkan theritory, where it wants to highlight a generation of authors who are often overlooked outside their local contexts and bring it into the focus with the Slovenian audiences and the creative scene.
The Indepenent Biennial continues its mission of mapping this exceptional visual scene, which often creates in difficult conditions and which deserves more recognition and support at all levels. The first international exhibition in Cankarjev dom is therefore its first step towards connecting and mapping authors and audiences on a wider, global context.

Parallel to the exhibition at Cankarjev Dom, the online exhibition of both invited and selected authors will be displayed until June 20th via www.independentplatform.net/exhibitions/an-international-selection/.