Svetlana Makarovič

Svetlana Makarovič is a vital voice in Slovenian literature. Her presence – as an artist in the exhibition – can be felt through her poems in almost every venue. Poetry is an essential part of the collective memory of a group, a community, or a society. What makes the poetry of Svetlana Makarovič so remarkable is the way she goes back to the ancient folklore modes of transmission. Her writing is intense, deeply rooted in respecting traditional poetic forms, moulded and bent to the questions and fears of the present. Her lyrical voice, at once dark, direct, bold and sincere, represents an incredible addition to the exhibition.

All the poems that appear at the entrance of MGLC Švicarija, MGLC Grad Tivoli, MG+ and City Art Gallery Ljubljana have been taken from the compendium Aloneness. This collection explores themes of solitude and the human condition, drawing extensively on folklore and balladic poetry. Makarovič brings to life beings from Slovenian mythology, such as desetnica, the tenth daughter, kresnik, the spirit of the summer solstice bonfire and Zeleni Jurij, the herald of spring, and weaves them into ballads that tell of the dehumanised nature of the modern world. Entering each exhibition venue through a poem by Svetlana Makarovič invites reflection on the central themes of her life and work: the dangers of political hypocrisy, religious dogma and nationalist nostalgia. Never have these themes been so relevant, or these dangers so close again. Her insistence on lyrical forms speaks about the importance of complexity in culture, about how we all need to seek a balance between structure and emotional expression, allowing complex ideas to resonate deeply within us. Her language speaks to both, the heart and the mind.