Šum Magazine

Šum Magazine is a biannual journal for critical examination of contemporary art. It is producing theory and theory based criticism of art, and also reflecting, researching and developing the mechanics of artistic production. These strivings are frequently complemented by live events such as seminars, discussions, lectures, and live presentations of the published content. By way of such engagements, Šum is delving into topics of working conditions, art's 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, NGOs and media organisations.

The publishing model

The magazine is rooted in the activities of the Galerija BOKS Society, which started as a formal platform for the student-run autonomous initiative 'Projekt Boks', but has later evolved into a vehicle for some other collaborations between the various 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 more or less 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, Pia Brezavšček and Tomo Stanič. Alongside writing for Šum, the better part of this group has been writing for the web platform of European art museums, L’Internationale. They are also active in writing for other media and journals, such as Radio Študent (RŠ), the performing arts journal Maska, Performing Arts Journal, the Praznine magazine and the Likovne besede Magazine.

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 and the poet Antonin Artaud.

Other activities

Šum's live activities, which continue upon 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; and other lectures, talks and debates that relate to art, theory and politics.

All these programmes deal both with theory as well as with concrete works and artists, especially those of a regional character. Their primary venues are the International Centre of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, the Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova (MSUM) and the Škuc Gallery, but they collaborate with other partner institutions from the co-production network as well.

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