IZ NARAVE V NARAVO
Aleksandra Saška Gruden je kiparka, ki svoje umetniško delo in s tem svet umetnosti nenehno povezuje z življenjem. Preigrava njune možne skupne točke in razhajanja, se giblje na njuni izmuzljivi meji. Zato so njena dela vselej v sozvočju s prostorom in daleč od ideje hermetičnega umetniškega dela. Njena postavitev na vrtu se tokrat dotika človeka in njegove biti v odnosu do narave in njene prvinske, realne danosti. In obratno. Predvsem skuša poustvariti njuno medsebojno-soodvisno komunikacijo in je ne le opisati. Komunikacijo, ki pa v tej zgodbi ni mišljena v negativnem pač v pozitivnem, kreativnem
smislu medsebojnega oplajanja in nikakor ne uničevanja.

Postavitev je zasnovana kot interaktiven labirint, kjer ima gledalec pomembno vlogo. Kot osnovo svoje konstrukcije je uporabila lesene gajbice, ki jih uporabljajo v industriji, trgovinah in v skladiščih. Odločitev za takšen “banalen”, tudi “reven” material v kiparkinem ustvarjanju ni naključje, saj se je že pred tem posluževala podobnega recikliranja; od kartonastih škatel in vzmetnic do gradbenih odrov. Tovrstnega materiala ne uporablja le iz formalnega ali praktičnega ozira, ampak tudi kot metaforo. Zdi se, da že samo obliko lesenih gajbic kiparka razume tudi kot metaforo energije ali napora, ki ju človek vloži v stvaritev nekega izdelka, pa tudi kot energijo, s katero je narava ustvarila same pogoje za tak material. Na ravni umetniškega dela, v kontekstu labirinta, pa lahko to metaforo razumemo tudi kot verižno recikliranje vse vložene energije skozi umetnico v samo postavitev - umetniški izdelek, ki to podvojeno energijo vrača nazaj v naravo. Vse to priča o kiparkini nedvomni ekološki ozaveščenosti, o zavedanju možne pozitivne medsebojne soodvisnosti človeka in narave. Sprehod skozi labirint je zato neke vrste nenehno vračanje v naravo, ne glede na izbrano izhodišče. Vse pride iz nje in se vanjo tudi vrača.

Plastenje materiala, ki je tudi eden od značilnih kiparkinih postopkov gradnje konstrukcij, kaže na njeno navdušenje nad materialnostjo, njeno metaforičnostjo, naravnostjo, repeticijo. Naložene gajbice, izpostavljene zunanjemu okolju nazorno kažejo, kako kiparka zavestno vključuje v delo skozi “reven” material elemente spremenljivosti, procesualnosti, tudi krhkosti, neobstojnosti. Uporablja pa tudi elemente naključja in improvizacije, ki jih tako recikliran material, uporabljen v zunanjem okolju, omogoča v polni meri. Vse to spominja na tradicijo danes že klasičnega avantgardnega gibanja Arte Povera (t. i. Revna umetnost), umetniške smeri iz 60.let, ki pa še vedno vpliva na sodobno umetnost s konceptom tematiziranja gibljivih mej med življenjem in umetnostjo. Les kot minljiva snov je tako hkrati simbol ali tudi klicaj, da nič ni večno, ne glede na to, kako tehnološko razvita je lahko naša civilizacija. Z njim nas kiparka sooča s krhkostjo in trdnostjo, ki ju labirintna konstelacija na vrtu poveže še s kontrastom med zunanjim in notranjim, kar kaže, da tudi v tej postavitvi kiparka nadaljuje zgodbo o prehajanju in vračanju.
BARBARA STERLE VURNIK

FROM NATURE TO NATURE
Aleksandra Saška Gruden is a sculptor who constantly ties her art and consequently the art world to life. She always seeks and interprets their possible common points and differences, and moves on the elusive border between the two. Therefore, her work is always in harmony with space and far from hermetic. This exhibition in the garden deals with humans and their Being in relation to nature and its primeval reality and vice versa. It particularly seeks to re-create, not only describe, their inter-dependent communication - communication which in this narrative is not meant in a negative, but in a positive
sense of inter-enrichment and definitely not destruction.

The layout is conceived as an inter-active labyrinth, with the visitor playing an important part. The construction is made of the crates used in factories, shops and warehouses. The artist did not opt for such ‘banal’ and ‘poor’ material by chance, as she had previously recycled material, having used everything from cardboard boxes and mattresses to scaffolds in her work. She uses this material not only for formal or practical reasons, but as a metaphor - she understands the shape of wooden crates as a metaphor for the energy or effort invested by a person in the creation of an object and the energy
with which nature itself created the conditions for such material. At the level of an art work and in the context of the labyrinth, we can understand this metaphor as a chain recycling of all the energy invested through the artist into the exhibition, the work of art, which returns double the amount of energy back to nature. This undoubtedly testifies to the artist’s environmental awareness and the fact that she knows positive inter-dependence between humans and nature is possible. A walk through the labyrinth is a kind of perpetual return to nature, regardless of the entrance point. Everything comes
from and returns to nature.

Another typical feature of her art is the layering of materials, which reveals her enthusiasm for the material world, its metaphorical quality, naturalness and repetition. The layered crates exposed to the environment demonstrate how through ‘poor’ material the sculptor consciously includes in her work an element of change, process, fragility and instability. She also employs coincidence and improvisation which the material recycled in such a way, and used in the outside environment, fully enables. It is reminiscent of the already classic Arte Povera avant-garde movement in the 1960s, which still influences
contemporary art, due to its examination of the shifting borders between life and art. Wood, a perishable material, serves at the same time as a symbol and reminder that nothing lasts forever, no matter how technologically developed our civilisation has become. The artist confronts us with the fragility and strength that the labyrinth constellation in the garden also connects with the contrasting relationship between the interior and exterior, and thereby continues a story of passage and return.
BARBARA STERLE VURNIK

ALEKSANDRA SAŠKA GRUDEN

1970 rojena v Mariboru
1989 konča Srednjo šolo pedagoške in kulturne usmeritve v
Mariboru
1991 začne delati kot novinarka kulturne redakcije RTV
Radio Slovenija in o.e. Radio Maribor
1992 zaključi študij na Pedagoški fakulteti Univerze v
Mariboru
1998 vpiše se na Akademijo za likovno umetnost v
Ljubljani, smer kiparstvo
2002 absolvira pri prof. Luju Vodopivcu
2003 začne poučevati na Šoli za uporabno umetnost Famul
Stuart v Ljubljani
članica uredniškega odbora pri reviji Asskalla, prilogi
Spektra, Študentska založba Litera, ŠOUM
2003 dela v ateljeju Lutkovnega gledališča v Ljubljani
2005 programska vodja Festivala performansa, sodobnega
plesa in gledališča Performa
2006 samostojna kulturna delavka
2007 scenografka RTV SLO RC Maribor
Umetniška vodja likovne kolonije Muzika, Savudrija,
Hrvaška

SAMOSTOJNE RAZSTAVE
2008 Video večerja; video predstavitev, Kulturni inkubator, Maribor
2007 TokTok, spet; večmedijska prostorska postavitev, Bežigrajska
galerija 2, Ljubljana
2006 ZBIRADEJNICA; večmedijski projekt v Mariboru
IGR(A)IŠČE; objekti in prostorska postavitev, Media Nox, Maribor
2005 ZBIRADEJNICA; večmedijski projekt; galerija Media Nox, Maribor
2004 ZBIRADEJNICA; večmedijski projekt; galerija Media Nox, Maribor
(četrti) PO-GLED; prostorska postavitev, KUD France Prešeren,
Ljubljana
2003 Obrazi znotraj; prostorska postavitev, Galerija PINA Koper
3x rojstvo; instalacija, galerija Media Nox Maribor
Tuditi; večmedijska predstavitev; galerija DLUM Maribor
2001 Bitje mehkobe; prostorska postavitev, KUD France prešeren,
Ljubljana
Znotraj dva; instalacija, galerija Media Nox, Maribor
Preobrazba; prostorska instalacija, razstavišče Hladilnica,
Maribor
2000 Slike na papirju; razstavišče Ajda, Maribor
1999 Mala plastika v glini; Probanka Maribor

SKUPINSKE RAZSTAVE
2008 Neotipljiva bitja; Srečišče, Celica, Ljubljana
2007 Grosuplje, OŠ Grosuplje
2006 Odprti Rog; ZA-ROG; Tovarna Rog, SCCA, Ljubljana
Avtoportret danes; razstava izbranih del udeležencev natečaja
Umetnostne galerije Maribor
Fotografija leta; EMZIN, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana
2005 Naplavine; galerija Hest 35, Ljubljana
Trienale ekologija in umetnost, Prostori prehoda, Kontinentalni
zajtrk, Umetnostna galerijaMaribor
Continental breakfast Maribor, Seven Seven, London, UK
KOD-SPOMIN-KOT; Famul v Celici, Mladinski center, Ljubljana
2004 ne-VIDNI prostori; prostor Koroška Maribor
Art and the City, Leibnitz, Avstrija
2003 KoMuNi?aKcija; razstavišče Ostanki, Maribor
Slovenski kiparji; Mestna hiša Ljubljana
2002 Triada; postavitev na Glasbeni akademiji, Ljubljana
Vabljeni mladi; DLUM Maribor
Razstava IV letnikov ALU; Jakopičeva galerija Ljubljana
Slovenski kiparji; Mestna hiša Ljubljana
2001 Prostor železarna Ravne; Ravne na Koroškem
Vabljeni mladi; Media Nox Maribor
2000 Vabljeni mladi; DLUM Maribor
Ljubljanski kiparji; Mestna hiša Ljubljana

KIPARSKI SIMPOZIJI
2007 glina, Savudrija, Hrvaška
2006 kamen, Innsbruck, Avstrija
2005 kamen, Innsbruck, Avstria
2004 kamen, Grosuplje - Mesto kipov Grosuplje
kamen, Leibnitz, Avstrija
2003 kamen, Metamorfoze, Ljubljana
mešana tehnika, Gaj pri Mariboru
2002 železo, Ravne na Koroškem
kamen, Schuheim, Avstrija
2001 les, Celje
kamen, Vrsar, Hrvaška
1999 kamen, Bilje pri Novi Gorici

JAVNE POSTAVITVE
2005 Figura; kamen, Innsbruck, Avstrija
2004 Labirintka; kamen, OŠ Grosuplje
Rimska hiša; kamen ,Leibnitz, Avstrija
2003 Onadva; kamen, Fakulteta za organizacijske vede Kranj
2002 Hrbtenica; kamen, Schuheim, Avstrija
2002 Sedež-na; les, park Celje
Privezovalnica; Vrsar, Hrvaška

VIDEO DELA IN RAZSTAVE:
2007 Človek-spomenik; Festival videa, Velenje
2006 Video večer, pregled video del in predstavitev lasne produkcije,
Kulturni inkubator, Maribor
Lu-na-lu-na; Narave 3, video festival, Bežigrajska galerija 2,
Ljubljana
2004 Oninta v snegu (1,40); Narave 1, video festival, Bežigrajska
galerija 2, Ljubljana

SCENOGRAFIJE IN LIKOVNI PROJEKTI
2008 scenografije za RTV SLO, o.e. TV Maribor
2007 scenografije za RTV SLO, RC Maribor
Na mojem vrtu; sodelovanje v projektu Rene Rusjan; vrt DLUL
2006 Volitve za župane; asistentka scenografke M. Vilhar, RTV SLO
Naša Vigred; celovečerni film, asistentka scenografa T. Marolta,
RTV SLO
2005 Dnevi knjige; scenografija za javno predvajanje radijske igre
Tojota, RTV SLO RA Maribor
2004 Ne-VIDNI prostori; likovni projekt Maribor
2002 Mesec študentske kulture; postavitev na Filozofski fakulteti
Univerze v Ljubljani
2001 Študentska kultura; postavitev v šotoru ŠOU Ljubljana
1999 Komunikacija med mano in tabo; projekt na ulici, Umetnostna
galerija Maribor
1998 izdelava maskote, scene in pokalov za radijsko oddajo UMKO
PERFORMANSI
2007 Dvojnosti; Umetnostna galerija Maribor
2006 Parole; Gosposka ulica, Maribor
Recepture; Tromostovje, Ljubljana
2005 Nove recept-ure; Grajski trg, Maribor
So-očenje; KUD France Prešeren, Poletna muzejska noč Ljubljana
O-Odstop; TEMP, Park za Filozofsko fakulteto, Ljubljana
2004 Umazane zgodbe - ali Traumlost; Zvezda Celje, Poletje v Celju,
knežjem mestu
NA-PLET; KUD France Prešeren Ljubljana, Poletna muzejska noč
Dolga stvar; ŠKUC Ljubljana
4. mednarodni teden mikroperformansa; ŠKUC Ljubljana

PRISPEVKI ZA REVIJE IN RADIJSKE ODDAJE (izbor)
2005 Zvon, prispevki o razstavi 7Grehov, Založba Mohorjeva družba,
Celovec
Asskalla; več prispevkov o kulturi, ŠOUM
2004 Asskalla; fotokolaž, ŠOUM
2003 Zvon; založba Mohorjeva družba Celovec
Asskalla; več prispevkov o kulturi, ŠOUM
Radijski prispevki za RTV Radio Slovenija, III program:
Naši umetniki pred mikrofonom, Likovni odmevi,
Kulturna panorama, Ocene gledaliških predstav
Za RTV o.e. Radio Maribor: Zbrano zapisano,
Zvočna razglednica iz Ljubljane

NAGRADE IN PRIZNANJA:
2006 3. nagrada za video Človek-spomenik, Velenje
2006 2. nagrada za slovensko fotografijo leta, EMZIN

ALEKSANDRA SAŠKA GRUDEN

1970 born in Maribor
1989 graduates at a Secondary school of education and
culture in Maribor
1991 begins working as a journalist in the Culture
Department at the RTV Slovenija (Radio Maribor
Organisational Unit), where she is still employed
today
1992 graduates at the Faculty of education of the
University of Maribor
1998 enrols into the Academy of Fine Arts in Ljubljana
where she studies sculpture
2002 graduates under Professor Lujo Vodopivec
2003 begins teaching at the Famul Stuart School of Applied
Arts in Ljubljana, where she still teaches today
member of the editorial board of the Asskalla
magazine (a Spekter newspaper supplement) of the
Litera Student Publishing Company (The Student
Organisation of University of Maribor - SOUM)
2003 works in the studio of the Ljubljana Puppet Theatre
2005 programme manager of the Performa Festival of
performance, contemporary dance and theatre
2006 freelance cultural worker
2007 set designer at the RTV SLO, Maribor Regional Centre
artistic leader of the Muzika fine art summer campus
in Savudrija, Croatia
A. Saška Gruden, skica postavitve / Layout sketch

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2008 Video Dinner - a video presentation; Cultural Incubator, Maribor
2007 KnocKnock, again - a multimedia spatial installation; Bežigrad
Gallery 2, Ljubljana
2006 ZBIRADEJNICA - a multimedia project in Maribor
IGR(A)IŠČE - built structures and a spatial installation; Media Nox
Gallery, Maribor
2005 ZBIRADEJNICA - a multimedia project; Media Nox Gallery, Maribor
2004 ZBIRADEJNICA; a multimedia project; Media Nox Gallery, Maribor
(the fourth) PO-GLED - a spatial installation; KUD France Prešeren,
Ljubljana
2003 Faces Within - a spatial installation; PINA Gallery, Koper
3x Birth - an installation; Media Nox Gallery, Maribor
Youtoo - a multimedia presentation; Gallery of the Maribor Fine
Artists Society
2001 A Being of Softness - a spatial installation; KUD France Prešeren,
Ljubljana
Within Two - an installation; Media Nox Gallery, Maribor
Metamorphosis - a spatial installation; Hladilnica Exhibition Room,
Maribor
2000 Paintings on Paper; Ajda Exhibition Room, Maribor
1999 Small-format clay sculpture; Probanka Maribor

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2008 Intangible Beings; Srečišče Gallery, Celica, Ljubljana
2007 Grosuplje, Grosuplje Primary School
2006 Open Rog; ZA-ROG; Rog Factory, SCCA ICA, Ljubljana
Self-Portrait Today, exhibition of selected works from a competition
by the Maribor Art Gallery
Photograph of the Year, EMZIN, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana
2005 Washed-up Debris; Hest 35 Galllery, Ljubljana
International Triennial Ecology and Art: Places of Transition,
Continental Breakfast, Maribor Art Gallery
Continental breakfast Maribor, Seven Seven, London, UK
KOD-SPOMIN-KOT; Famul in Celica, Youth Centre, Ljubljana
2004 In-VISIBLE Spaces, space: Koroška, Maribor
Art and the City; Leibnitz, Austria
2003 KoMuNi?aKcija; Ostanki Exhibition Room, Maribor
Slovene Sculptors, Ljubljana City Hall
2002 Triad - an installation at the Academy of Music, Ljubljana
Invited Youth; Maribor Fine Artists Society
Exhibition of 4th year students of the Academy of Fine Arts and
Design; Jakopič Gallery, Ljubljana
Slovene Sculptors, Ljubljana City Hall
2001 Space: Ravne Ironworks; Ravne na Koroškem
Invited Youth; Media Nox, Maribor
2000 Invited Youth; Maribor Fine Artists Society
Sculptors from Ljubljana; Ljubljana City Hall

SCULPTURE SYMPOSIA
2007 clay; Savudrija, Croatia
2006 tone; Innsbruck, Austria
2005 stone; Innsbruck, Austria
2004 stone; Grosuplje - A city of sculptures
stone; Leibnitz, Austria
2003 stone; Metamorphoses, Ljubljana
mixed technique; Gaj near Maribor
2002 iron; Ravne na Koroškem
stone; Schuheim, Austria
2001 wood; Celje
stone; Vrsar, Croatia
1999 stone; Bilje pri Novi Gorici

PUBLIC INSTALLATIONS
2005 Figure (stone); Innsbruck, Austria
2004 Two Small Labyrinths (stone); Grosuplje Primary School
Roman House (stone); Leibnitz, Austria
2003 The Two of Them (stone); Faculty of Organizational Sciences, Kranj
2002 Spine (stone); Schuheim, Austria
2002 Sedež-na (wood); Celje Park
Berth; Vrsar, Croatia
VIDEO WORKS AND EXHIBITIONS
2007 Human-Monument; Velenje Video Festival
2006 Video Night; overview of works and a presentation of own
production, Cultural Incubator, Maribor
Lu-na-lu-na; Natures 3 video festival, Bežigrad Gallery 2, Ljubljana
2004 Oninta in Snow, (1.40); Natures 1 video festival, Bežigrad Gallery 2,
Ljubljana

SET DESIGN AND FINE ARTS PROJECTS
2008 set design for RTV SLO (TV Maribor Organisational Unit)
2007 set design RTV SLO (Maribor Regional Centre)
In my garden; collaboration on a project by Rene Rusjan; garden of
the Ljubljana Fine Artists Society
2006 Mayor Elections, assistant set designer to M. Vilhar, RTV SLO
Naša Vigred - a feature film; assistant set designer to T. Marolt,
RTV SLO
2005 Book Days; set design for a public broadcasting of a radio play
entitled Tojota, RTV SLO, Radio Maribor
2004 In-VISIBLE Spaces - a fine arts project in Maribor
2002 Student Month of Culture; an installation at the Faculty of Arts of
the University of Ljubljana
2001 Student Culture; an installation in the Student Organisation of the
University of Ljubljana tent
1999 Communication between Me and You - a street project, Maribor
Art Gallery
1998 mascot, set and cup design for a radio show called UMKO

PERFORMANCES
2007 Dualities; Maribor Art Gallery
2006 Paroles; Gosposka St., Maribor
Recepture; The Three Bridges, Ljubljana
2005 New recept-ure; Grajski Sq., Maribor
So-očenje; KUD France Prešeren, Museum Summer Night, Ljubljana
O-Odstop; TEMP, Park behind the Faculty of Arts, Ljubljana
2004 Dirty Stories or Traumlost; Zvezda Celje, Summer in Celje, a City of
Counts
NA-PLET; KUD France Prešeren Ljubljana, Museum Summer Night
A Long Thing; ŠKUC, Ljubljana
4th International Week of Micro Performance, ŠKUC, Ljubljana

MAGAZINE ARTICLES AND RADIO SHOWS (selection)
2005 Zvon; articles on the 7Sins exhibition, Mohorjeva družba publishing
company, Klagenfurt
Asskalla; several articles on culture, Student Organisation of the
University of Maribor
2004 Asskalla; photo collage, Student Organisation of the University of
Maribor
2003 Zvon; Mohorjeva družba publishing company, Klagenfurt
Asskalla; several articles on culture, Student Organisation of the
University of Maribor
RTV Radio Slovenia, III programme: Naši umetniki pred
mikrofonom, Likovni odmevi, Kulturna panorama, Ocene
gledaliških predstav
RTV Slovenia, Radio Maribor Organisational Unit: Zbrano zapisano,
Zvočna razglednica iz Ljubljane

AWARDS
2006 3rd prize for the video Human-Monument, Velenje
2006 2nd prize at the Photograph of the Year competition, EMZIN

Izdajatelj in organizator / Publisher and organization of the exhibition: Društvo likovnih umetnikov Ljubljana / Ljubljana Fine Artists Society,
Zanj / On its behalf: Jožef Vrščaj; Besedilo / Text: Barbara Sterle Vurnik, Lektura in prevod v angleščino / Lecture and english translation:
U.T.A. Prevajanje; Oblikovanje vabila in zloženke / Design: Dušan Muc; Priprava in tisk / DTP and printed by: Mat-Format d.o.o.;
Naklada / Print run: 300 izvodov / Copies; Ljubljana, Slovenija, 2008

Razstavo je podprl Oddelek za kulturo Mestne obËine Ljubljana / The exhibition has been supported by the City of Ljubljana