This year’s edition of R.o.R. festival is an exploration of the
widespread presence of technology in modern-day society. It questions
how the artists are coping with extreme technologic development, from
seeking out new possibilities for artistic production to observing how
technologic progress has changed our perception of human values. The
artistic projects featured touch upon various subject, ranging from
obsolete industrial heavy machinery which shaped our history, to
high-tech projects reaching into an interdisciplinary field where art
meets science and state-of-the-art technology.
A Moment in Time reflects on how important it is to observe, through
the lens of art, all the elements which shape our presence – but it
also provides us with a more profound understanding of what the future
has in store for us. As the only neutral field unconstrained by the
commercial interests of modern-day society, art provides us with an
exceptional platform to express where we can critically observe how,
on the one hand, technology can be used to broaden our horizons and
perceptions, yet improper and misguided application of technology can
also utterly dehumanize mankind’s existence.
Joining this year’s colorful festival line-up are newcomers MIC -
Business Educational Center and School Center Nova Gorica, with a host
of innovative projects created by young artists working with virtual
reality and robotics. This is an important collaboration, as it makes
the unique domain of art more accessible and allows for
interdisciplinary combinations of artistic content with the younger
generation’s innovative technologic applications.
Also taking part is a variety of major international organizations
such as L.A.E XXI, the oldest cultural non-profit association in
Croatia and Klub Solitaer s.V, Chemnitz, Germany, introducing their
residential program projects from the field of robotics and new
technologies. This cooperation is of particular significance because
it also opens up new opportunities for artistic exchange and
collaborations between artists and organizations from MONG and the
city of Chemnitz, which is going to share the 2025 European Capital of
Culture title together with Nova Gorica.
The interdisciplinary nature of this year’s festival edition events
brings visitors a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in
robotic technology, artificial intelligence and virtual reality. By
showcasing interesting artistic projects and providing expert
lectures, the festival takes an innovative and critical approach to a
variety of topics, such as ecology, sustainability and humanization of
technology. Artists help us understand how to shift technology’s
functional aspect into an artistic one.
This year’s edition is created by established artists and experts in
robotics, sociology, experimental music, photography, literature,
dance and philosophy, including: SZ Berlin, Kati Hyppa, Niklas Roy,
Ulirike Brantl, Robert Verch, Club Solitaer, Dr. Maša Jazbec, Marko
Lük, MN Dance Company, Brane Zorman, Dean Zahtila, Jurij Mušič, Luka
Frelih, DDTLab, PiNA, Altrememorie, BridA and Polina Polikarpova, who
will make their contribution to this fascinating topic, each from
their respective field.
10.00 Niklas Roy & Kati Hyyppä: Vektorkollektor on Tour,
a participative installation
Vektorkollektor is built in the form of a playful hand truck that can
be moved around in public space to collect images (“vectors”). Come by
and draw your own picture!
■ Bevkov trg square, Nova
Gorica
In case of rain the event will be held in front of Xcenter,
Delpinova ulica 20,Nova Gorica.
13.00 PiNA – Heka:
Virtualization of Reality, workshop
■ University of Nova
Gorica School of Arts, Vipavska cesta 13, Rožna Dolina, Nova Gorica
Workshop for a limited number of students.
16.00 Niklas Roy & Kati
Hyyppä: Vektorkollektor on Tour, a participative installation
■ Europe Square, Nova
Gorica
In case of rain, the event will be held in front of the Toll Booth
(Carinarnica). Erjavčeva ulica 51, 5000 Nova Gorica.
17.00 Niklas Roy & Kati Hyyppä: Vektorkollektor on Tour,
a participative installation
■ Travnik/Piazza della
Vittoria, Gorica/Gorizia
The event will be cancelled in case of rain.
17.00 Luka Frelih: I Draw You,
Cut You, Stick You, Stitch You!
A workshop of robotic drawing and cutting. Create your custom
patches with a robot’s help!
■ Xcenter, Delpinova ulica 20,
Nova Gorica
17.00 DDTLab: Eva the Robot, workshop
Enterprising youngsters learning about robotics in innovative and
creative ways.
■ MIC, Business
Education Center, Cankarjeva ulica 8a, Nova Gorica (Ground floor)
Workshop for pre-registered participants, suitable for ages 6–12.
20.00 Polina Polikarpova:
Pretty Ghetto, photographic exhibition opening
■ TIR Gallery,
Mostovna, Cesta IX. korpusa 99a, Solkan
21.00 Altrememorie Cultural
Society: Walk the Line, presentation of the project
Walk the Line is an exploratory-narrative project that aims to walk a
stretch of the Italian-Slovenian border in order to elaborate a
contemporary, public and transdisciplinary narrative.
■ TIR Gallery,
Mostovna, Cesta IX. korpusa 99a, Solkan
The lecture will be held in English language, interpretation will be
provided as necessary.
Are you curious to learn how to operate a robotic arm and use it as a
creative tool? Or even how to operate the entire robot by yourself?
Would you like to control a robot with your mind? Draw a comic strip
with Eva the Robot? Control a flight simulator with the power of your
thoughts? If so, make sure to seize this unique opportunity offered to
you as part of the R.o.R. Festival. Visit the MIC center and get to
know the amazing world of robots under the guidance of the
internationally-acclaimed and award-winning team of DDTLab.
All events except the Creative Robotics workshop are open to the
general public. No booking necessary. Welcome!
■ MIC, Business
Education Center, Cankarjeva ulica 8a, Nova Gorica (Ground floor)
15.00 BridA: Nanoplotter,
multimedia installation
A plotter, whose usual function is to render a final drawing or
project presentation, takes on the role as the “performer”, an actor.
15.00 Niklas Roy & Kati
Hyyppä: Vektorkollektor on Tour, a participative installation
15.00 DDTLab: NeuroYaski,
presentation and demonstration
Control Yaskawa’s MotoMini robotic arm via the Brain Computer
Interface (BCI), which allows us to control the robotic arm directly
with our mind.
15.00 DDTLab: NeuroFly
Controlling a flight simulator with our thoughts.
16.00 DDTLab: Creative Robotics,
workshop
Learning about NAO robots and the Yaskawa robotic arm
16.30 DDTLab: NeuroFly
Controlling a flight simulator with our thoughts.
18.00 DDTLab: AI Comic with
Eva the Robot
Creating a comic in collaboration with Eva the Robot.
18.00 DDTLab: NeuroFly
Controlling a flight simulator with our thoughts.
18.00 DDTLab: Yaski the
Robotic Artist
Learning about industrial robotics with creative, artistic and
innovative applications which demonstrate the broader applications of
industrial robotics (the “out-of-the-box” principle).
R.o.R digestiv: Living Legends
An evening of new connections, original acoustic performances and
choice art
■ Mostovna, Cesta IX. korpusa
99a, Solkan
19.30 Dean Zahtila: Labin Art
Express XXI, presentation of the organization and the Industrial Art Biennial.
Dean Zahtila’s presentation discusses the past, present and future of
Labin Art Express XXI (L.A.E. XXI), the oldest cultural non-profit
association in Croatia.
The lecture will be held in English language, interpretation will be
provided as necessary.
20.45 Sz. Berlin: RZZ-22
(Requiem for Cranes), performance and audio-visual project
RZZ-22 is dedicated to the iconic, old, intimidating port cranes
looming above the city of Rijeka.
21.30 Marko Lük: Deconstructor,
live acoustic performance
Deconstructor is a project where Marko Lük uses synthesizers, drum
machines, sequencers and effectors to create a variety of sound images
in his live act performances.
10.00 DDTLab: NeuroFly
Controlling a flight simulator with our thoughts.
■ MIC, Business
Education Center, Cankarjeva ulica 8a, Nova Gorica (Ground floor)
10.00 DDTLab: AI Comic with
Eva the Robot
Creating a comic in collaboration with Eva the Robot.
■ MIC, Business Education
Center, Cankarjeva ulica 8a, Nova Gorica (Ground floor)
10.00 DDTLab: NeuroYaski
Control Yaskawa’s MotoMini robotic arm via the Brain Computer
Interface (BCI), which allows us to control the robotic arm directly
with our mind.
■ MIC, Business
Education Center, Cankarjeva ulica 8a, Nova Gorica (Ground floor)
16.00 Presentation of MIC
Business Education Center and UIL FabLab
Experts will prepare tours for festival participants and the
broader public interested in knowing more about the activities offered
by the Goriška region’s most enterprising school. Uroš Polanc will
make a presentation about the center.
■ MIC, Business
Education Center, Cankarjeva ulica 8a, Nova Gorica (Ground floor)
The event will be presented in English language, interpretation
will be provided as necessary.
18.00 Nova Gorica University’s
Schools of Art: Annual Student Exhibition
■ University of Nova
Gorica School of Arts, Vipavska cesta 13, Rožna Dolina, Nova Gorica
20.00 Club Solitaer s.V,
Ulrike Brantl & Robert Verch, presentation of the
organization and opportunity for creating new partnerships as part GO!
2025 - Chemnitz 2025
Triggering ideas, initiating community involvement, creating room for
development; for cultural work and sustainable, participatory urban
development, this is Klub Solitaer s.V.‘s mission - the mission of a
cultural actor located in the Sonnenberg district in Chemnitz, active
in the city and the field of contemporary culture and arts since 2010.
■ Xcenter, Delpinova ulica 20,
Nova Gorica
The lecture will be held in English language, interpretation will
be provided as necessary.
18.00 Brane Zorman: The Tree
Spirits | Touch, live acoustic ambisonics event
Brane Zorman performs the piece The Tree Spirits | Touch, which has
been taking form over two years, through various stages and with
varying intensity. The audio recordings give the trees a voice over
their annual and lifelong cycle, which begins and ends with silence.
■ Pavlica family olive
orchard, gathering at the Šempas cemetery parking lot
In case of rain, the event will be moved to the Šempas Cultural
Center’s community hall.
21.00 Niklas Roy & Kati
Hyyppä: Vektorkollektor, Zavod MN Produkcija: Movement beyond
Borders, Jurij Mušič: Void, joint performance
A musician, dancers and two visual artists combine their creative
efforts in this spontaneous performance.
■ Šempas Culture
Center events hall
In case of rain, the event will be moved to the Šempas Cultural
Center’s community hall.
21.30 A Spring Evening -
polenta an toč, a culinary performance, Šempas Tourism Society
■ Šempas Culture Center
events hall
In case of rain, the event will be moved to the Šempas Cultural
Center’s community hall.
