BIO28 Ljubljana. Double Agent: Do You Speak Flower?
28. ročník ľubľanského bienále dizajnu si vybral tému floriografiu, teda, významy ukryté do kvetov. Skrytý jazyk kvetov je len zámienkou na venovanie sa definovaniu identity ako estetickopolitického počinu. Zameranie bienále na dizajn ako politický projekt vyplýva z teórií Alexandry Midal, hlavnej kurátorky tohto ročníka. Ako Midal píše v kurátorskom texte: „Proti srsti historiografie dizajnu, ktorú presadzovali učeníci modernistického hnutia, Double Agent: Do You Speak Flower? prináša obnovenú perspektívu na rozšírený dizajn, ktorá artikuluje, ako tieto rafinované stratégie môžu tvoriť hodnotnú perspektívu na premyslenie tejto disciplíny.“
The 28th Ljubljana Design Biennial has chosen the theme of floriography, that is, the meanings hidden in flowers. The hidden language of flowers is just a pretext for dedicating itself to defining identity as an aesthetic-political act. The biennial’s focus on design as a political project stems from Alexandra Midal’s theories, the main curator of this year. As Midal says in the curatorial text: “Against the grain of the historiography of design promoted by the disciples of the modernistmovement Double Agent: Do You Speak Flower? brings a renewed perspective on expanded design, articulating how these refined strategies can create a valuable perspective for rethinking this discipline.”
The current year is curated by French design theorist and curator Alexandra Midal and French designer Emma Pflieger. In their hands, the biennial is not a showcase of current industrial or product design developments, but it becomes a manifesto. It thus presents a specific vision of design, its principles, starting points and goals. In the words of the curator: “The exhibition draws on critical theory to define self-identification as an aesthetic and political act that resonates with defeated, marginalized, forgotten or invisible minorities. Given that flowers represent the commodification of women into an idealized paradigm of beauty and at the same time serve as feminist, anti-colonial, gender and queer cryptology, the title Double Agent: Do You Speak the Language of Flowers? expresses this double perspective. The exhibition concept of the biennial is based on ongoing research that questions the role of the exhibition in providing answers, instead wanting to open a series of conversations with designers, artists and the public.”
The exhibition invites viewers to abandon their stereotyped understanding of design and society as such. It offers us the opportunity to think about design anew. It diverges from the modernist vision of design that provides universal solutions. Traditional narratives about function (whatever that term means), problem-solving, etc., are not helpful when trying to understand the concept of this exhibition. The manifesto that BIO28 claims to outline a different vision of design; its essence lies in subversion. This biennial follows the line of design that is a subversive, multi-layered practice; it is an incentive to think and constantly question our ideas and under standing. Through their selection, the curators bring to the attention works that quietly open questions about our lived realities. Through the three exhibited projects, we immerse ourselves in the design of which BIO28 is a manifesto.