Janez Bogataj: Who Did I See?
11th December 2025–6thJanuary 2026
Galerija ZDSLU, Ljubljana
Janez Bogataj presents an exhibition of photographs from opening events at Galerija ZDSLU Gallery and the Rihard Jakopič Exhibition Venue in Ljubljana (1988–1990).
Between 1988 and 1990, Janez Bogataj was a regular visitor to the exhibition events of the Slovenian Association of Fine Arts Societies. Already an established photojournalist for Mladina magazine and (co-)author of the characteristic image of the Ljubljana punk scene at the time, in just over three years he created a series of photographs that captured one of the most successful chapters in the history of the more than 100-year-old association, and above all the spiritual image of the 1980s, imbued with incredible optimism, tolerance and perhaps the last vestiges of bohemianism.
Although documentary photography was not yet widely discussed as an art form in Slovenia at the time, some critics, and even more so visionary magazine and newspaper editors, were aware of how important it was in a world dominated by visual messages for reportage or documentary photographers to act not only as journalists but also as authors who create stories or visual narratives.
At first glance, it may seem that the association's events of that time, attended by all generations – artists, curators, critics and companions of various stylistic preferences, everyone was welcome – were designed as an escape from the dark premonitions of the near future that almost all of us carried deep within ourselves. Perhaps only artists, including Janez Bogataj, managed to convince us, at least for a moment, of the correctness of their (different) perceptions and visions of the world, even if they were illusory.
More works by the artist can be viewed here.
