BIO – Biennial of Design Ljubljana

The Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts is one of the oldest biennials in the world; it was founded in 1955. Ibrahim Mahama is the artistic director of this year’s 35th Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts.

With its activities, it positioned Ljubljana and Slovenian art into a global context, influenced the development of many similar events around the world, and created an active network for the exchange of experience in the field of graphic arts.

The international community recognized the Biennale as a high-quality event, and thanks to it, Slovenian art also established itself abroad, where it is represented in the museums of the world mainly through graphic prints. Since its foundation, it has strengthened and supported the quality of Slovenian art and artists. By regularly presenting the works of artists from different cultural backgrounds and artistic environments, it also influenced local developments. At the same time, it played a significant role in the formation of the Ljubljana School of graphic arts and the works that are included among the highlights of classical printmaking production. The Biennale emerged at a time when printmaking and its reproductive techniques fully resonated with the general state of art and society. It was precisely at this time that Pop Art had already established itself in Great Britain and the United States. Post-war capitalism, consumer society, and the uncertain division of so-called high and low culture had a strong influence on the production of art.

The International Centre of Graphic Arts (MGLC) is an art, education, residency, and leisure center that enriches the lives of all generations by linking heritage, contemporary art, and nature. Located in Ljubljana, in the heart of Tivoli Park, MGLC is housed in two remarkable historic buildings: Tivoli Mansion since 1986 and Švicarija since 2017.