Šum Magazine

Šum Magazine is a biannual journal for critical examinations of contemporary art. Besides producing theory and theory based criticism of art, it is also reflecting on the mechanics involved in artistic production, and these strivings are frequently complemented by various live events such as seminars, discussions, lectures and live presentations of the published content. By way of such engagements, it is delving into topics of working conditions, discursive systems, the roles of intermediaries in the field (i.e. museum, galleries, curators, etc), and the related questions of self-organisation and autonomy.

Currently still predominantly focused on Slovenian speaking readers, it accepts articles written in English language as well. Its activities are based on a specific collaboration with various public institutions; NGOPs and media organisations.

The publishing model

The magazine is rooted in the activities of the Galerija BOKS Society, which started as a student-run platform that evolved into a vehicle for various collaborations with the existing protagonists of the art field. When one such (EU funded) project finished with a publication of the texts generated, this led into establishing the journal in 2013.

Mostly publishing works by the younger generation of often self-employed cultural workers, the magazine is financed by way of a co-production network, with the partner institutions (public institutions and some NGOs) financially backing up Šum, and also providing it with the infrastructure for distribution and for various public activities. Some of the partners are Moderna galerija / Museum of Modern Art, Ljubljana plus Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova, City Art Gallery Ljubljana, Maribor Art Gallery, the International Centre of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, ŠKUC Gallery, Koroška Gallery of Fine Arts and the Celje Gallery of Contemporary Art.

Writers and topics

The editorial team, members of which also contribute a significant part of the texts, is fluid and features Tjaša Pogačar, Domen Ograjenšek, Andrej Škufca, Kaja Kraner, Izidor Barši and Tomo Stanič. Alongside writing for Šum, the better part of this group has also been writing for the web platform of European art museums, L’Internationale.

To illustrate the range of topics, some of the texts published up until now have examined the relation between politics and aesthetics with regards to the theory of Walter Benjamin; the work of the Croatian artist Sanja Iveković; an exploration of contemporary art via the South African band Die Antwoord; translations of works by the likes of Chantal Mouffe and Hito Steyerl; and the possible relations existing between the critic Jacques Rivièr, the dancer Vaclav Nižinski (dance) and the poet Antonin Artaud.

Other activities

Šum's activities, which actually continue the previous projects of Galerija BOKS Society, are rather broad. There are seminars on theory of contemporary art, on curating of contemporary art, and on analysing contemporary art; live presentations of new journal editions; various other lectures, talks and debates related to art, theory and politics.

All these programmes deal both with theory as well as concrete works and artists, especially those of a regional character. Their primary venues are the International Centre of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana and the Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova (MSUM). Additionally, Šum members produce radio shows on art at Radio Student (RŠ) and partake in a quite wide range of activities

External links

Šum Magazine's website
Galerija Boks Society website (in Slovene)
Texts on L’Internationale platform

Šum Magazine

Contents

The publishing model

Writers and topics

Other activities

See also

External links

Operated by

Financed by