Neža
Knez
Born in 1990, Ljubljana (SI)
Lives and works between Ljubljana (SI) and Zagreb (CRO)
Neža Knez (1990) explores the potentials and possibilities within the fictitious structure that appears in the real world, time and space. She is interested in the relationships that take place in the process of structuring form, be it moving image, sound, language, or mixed media installation. In recent years, she has largely dealt with (motion) picture and space beyond it. Seeing film as an incomplete whole, she focuses on creating situations with sculptural cinematographic elements, sounds, text/voice, and participants in these choreographies. She probes the materiality of light, pixels, sound, volume, skin, and bodies, which she also explores in cohabitation with her long standing (canine) teacher Niki. She has participated in a number of independent and group exhibitions in Slovenia and abroad, and received several awards, including the award of the Ministry of Culture, the ALUO Recognition, and the ALUO Award for Exceptional Student Achievements, the Golden Press Award for Innovative Approach to Graphic Art, the Prešeren Prize for Students conferred by the University of Ljubljana, and the OHO Group Award. Since 2020, Neža Knez has lived and worked between Ljubljana and Zagreb, where she moved, among others, to attend the WHW Academy. In 2021, she pursued further education in experimental film at RESTART (Zagreb).
︎︎︎ EDUCATION
2021
RESTART (School of Documentary and Experimental film)
2019, 2020
WHW Academy, Zagreb (CRO)
2018
MFA in Sculpture, Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Ljubljana (SI)
2014
BFA in Sculpture, Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Ljubljana (SI)
︎︎︎ AWARDS, GRANTS AND RESIDENCIES
2020
Studio from Gallery GMK, Zagreb (CRO)
Working grant (City of Ljubljana), Ljubljana (SI)
Residency student at WHW Academy, Zagreb (CRO)
2019
I-Portunus (Goethe institut), Mobile gran
One of the 9 artist on WHW one year collaboration program (SI)
Working Grant, Slovenian Ministry of Culture (SI)
Nomination and WINNER for the award YVAA OHO (SI)
Hekler, NYC (USA)
2018
RU Residency Unlimited artist (2 months), NYC (USA)
Two-year residency in creative center Švicarija (SI)
MLADIKE 2018, Municipality of Ljubljana (SI)
Two-year residence in a creative center Švicarija (International Centre of Graphic Art MGLC)
2017
Summa Cum-laude for Master’s disertation
A nomination for YVAA award OHO
2016
Camp in Germany, Regensburg (DE)
Residency in Rome, Viterbo, Ljubliana, Milan with exhibition in Tirana, Milano and Viterbo (IT, SI, AL), How do landscapes shape human imagination
2015
Award for an innovative approach to the graphic arts (SI)
Prešern’s award of Academy of Fine Arts, University of Ljubljana (SI)
Award for outstanding academic achievements, Academy of Fine Arts, University of Ljubljana (SI)
Recognition for outstanding academic achievements, Academy of Fine Arts, University of Ljubljana (SI)
2014
Residency in Berlin (with curator Maja Škerbot), Berlin (DE)
2021
RESTART (School of Documentary and Experimental film)
2019, 2020
WHW Academy, Zagreb (CRO)
2018
MFA in Sculpture, Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Ljubljana (SI)
2014
BFA in Sculpture, Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Ljubljana (SI)
︎︎︎ AWARDS, GRANTS AND RESIDENCIES
2020
Studio from Gallery GMK, Zagreb (CRO)
Working grant (City of Ljubljana), Ljubljana (SI)
Residency student at WHW Academy, Zagreb (CRO)
2019
I-Portunus (Goethe institut), Mobile gran
One of the 9 artist on WHW one year collaboration program (SI)
Working Grant, Slovenian Ministry of Culture (SI)
Nomination and WINNER for the award YVAA OHO (SI)
Hekler, NYC (USA)
2018
RU Residency Unlimited artist (2 months), NYC (USA)
Two-year residency in creative center Švicarija (SI)
MLADIKE 2018, Municipality of Ljubljana (SI)
Two-year residence in a creative center Švicarija (International Centre of Graphic Art MGLC)
2017
Summa Cum-laude for Master’s disertation
A nomination for YVAA award OHO
2016
Camp in Germany, Regensburg (DE)
Residency in Rome, Viterbo, Ljubliana, Milan with exhibition in Tirana, Milano and Viterbo (IT, SI, AL), How do landscapes shape human imagination
2015
Award for an innovative approach to the graphic arts (SI)
Prešern’s award of Academy of Fine Arts, University of Ljubljana (SI)
Award for outstanding academic achievements, Academy of Fine Arts, University of Ljubljana (SI)
Recognition for outstanding academic achievements, Academy of Fine Arts, University of Ljubljana (SI)
2014
Residency in Berlin (with curator Maja Škerbot), Berlin (DE)
︎︎︎ SOLO SHOWS
2022
What would happen if all these pictures were taken away from us?, Ravnikar Gallery, Ljubljana (SI)
Call Me Series, Cukrarna Gallery, Ljubljana (SI)
Miklova Hiša Gallery, Ribnica (SI)
Tobačna Gallery, Ljubljana (SI)
Ravnikar Gallery Space, Ljubljana (SI)
Gallery Hiša Kulture, Pivka (SI)
2021
City Gallery, Ljubljana (SI)
Gallery VN, Zagreb (SI)
Residency in gallery GMK, Zagreb (CRO)
Y Project, Kino Šiška, Ljubljana (SI)Projection of documentary film on DOKUCOC, Maribor (SI)
2020
Two public intervention in Zagreb (CRO)
2019
Gallery Hekler, NYC (NYC)
SCCA (Center for contemporary art), Ljubljana (SI)
MGLC (International Centre of Graphic Art), performans during the 33rd Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts
Švicarija, Public intervention, Ljubljana (SI)
Festival City of Women, Ljubljana (SI)
Public intervention on festival, Celje (SI) Gallery AŽ, Zagreb (CRO)
Likovni salon Celje, Celje (SI)Gallery P74, Ljubljana (SI)
2018
RU Space, Broadway square: with Nadežda Kirčanski (Osman Can Yerebakan), NYC (USA)
22 day public intervention on Broadway (Brooklyn/Buschwick), NYC (USA)
SCCA (Center for contemporary arts), Ljubljana (SI)
House of Culture Pivka, Pivka (SI)
Gallery Zelenica (ROG), Walking research with Martina Jurak, Ljubljana (SI)
2017
Kunst off-Space/Narrenkastl, The love (T)Act, Frohnleiten (AT)
Gallery Vetrinjski dvor, The love (T)Act, Maribor (SI)
Gallery Sira, Dis-communication, Zagreb (CRO)
Gallery Zelenica – ROG factory, Missing link, Ljubljana (SI)
Gallery SKC, Communication, Rijeka (CRO)
2016
Gallery SKC, Missing link, Rijeka (CRO)
Gallery Sira, Dis-communication, Zagreb (CRO)
Gallery Zelenica – ROG factory, Missing link, Ljubljana (SI)
Gallery SKC, Communication, Rijeka (CRO)
Gallery SKC, Missing link, Rijeka (CRO)
(ON THE) EDGES OF EXPERIENCE, performance (Reading) – library, Milano (IT)
Three day action/performance For-nothing in Regensburg (DE)
Gallery MediaNox, No – Visibility, Maribor (SI)
2014
Public intervention – guided graffiti: Graffiti, Ljubljana, Slovenia (SI)
2022
What would happen if all these pictures were taken away from us?, Ravnikar Gallery, Ljubljana (SI)
Call Me Series, Cukrarna Gallery, Ljubljana (SI)
Miklova Hiša Gallery, Ribnica (SI)
Tobačna Gallery, Ljubljana (SI)
Ravnikar Gallery Space, Ljubljana (SI)
Gallery Hiša Kulture, Pivka (SI)
2021
City Gallery, Ljubljana (SI)
Gallery VN, Zagreb (SI)
Residency in gallery GMK, Zagreb (CRO)
Y Project, Kino Šiška, Ljubljana (SI)Projection of documentary film on DOKUCOC, Maribor (SI)
2020
Two public intervention in Zagreb (CRO)
2019
Gallery Hekler, NYC (NYC)
SCCA (Center for contemporary art), Ljubljana (SI)
MGLC (International Centre of Graphic Art), performans during the 33rd Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts
Švicarija, Public intervention, Ljubljana (SI)
Festival City of Women, Ljubljana (SI)
Public intervention on festival, Celje (SI) Gallery AŽ, Zagreb (CRO)
Likovni salon Celje, Celje (SI)Gallery P74, Ljubljana (SI)
2018
RU Space, Broadway square: with Nadežda Kirčanski (Osman Can Yerebakan), NYC (USA)
22 day public intervention on Broadway (Brooklyn/Buschwick), NYC (USA)
SCCA (Center for contemporary arts), Ljubljana (SI)
House of Culture Pivka, Pivka (SI)
Gallery Zelenica (ROG), Walking research with Martina Jurak, Ljubljana (SI)
2017
Kunst off-Space/Narrenkastl, The love (T)Act, Frohnleiten (AT)
Gallery Vetrinjski dvor, The love (T)Act, Maribor (SI)
Gallery Sira, Dis-communication, Zagreb (CRO)
Gallery Zelenica – ROG factory, Missing link, Ljubljana (SI)
Gallery SKC, Communication, Rijeka (CRO)
2016
Gallery SKC, Missing link, Rijeka (CRO)
Gallery Sira, Dis-communication, Zagreb (CRO)
Gallery Zelenica – ROG factory, Missing link, Ljubljana (SI)
Gallery SKC, Communication, Rijeka (CRO)
Gallery SKC, Missing link, Rijeka (CRO)
(ON THE) EDGES OF EXPERIENCE, performance (Reading) – library, Milano (IT)
Three day action/performance For-nothing in Regensburg (DE)
Gallery MediaNox, No – Visibility, Maribor (SI)
2014
Public intervention – guided graffiti: Graffiti, Ljubljana, Slovenia (SI)
︎︎︎ GROUP SHOWS
2022
Emergency Exit, MSUM, Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova, Ljubljana (SI)
Art Quarter, Budapest (HU)
2020
MMSU Reka (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art), David Maljković with the Collection, Rijeka (CRO)
Gallery Nova (WHW Collective gallery), Zagreb (CRO)
2019
Gallery Hiša culture, Pivka (SI)
Gallery Mohsen, Tehran (IN)
ŠKUC Gallery, Ljubljana (SI)
2018
MLZ art dep, Trieste (IT)
Center For Contemporary Arts Celje (SI)
Gallery Kunsthalle, Thinking about images, Graz (AT)
P74 Gallery, OHO Young Visual Artist Award 2018, Deus ex machina, Ljubljana (SI)
Center For Contemporary Arts, Celje (SI) Likovni salon, Rol the sleeves, Celje (SI)
Gallery Kortil, Thinking (about) images, Imag(in)e Ka-mize, Rijeka (CRO)
2017
GalleryGallery and Gallery KinoSiska, Bodies on pedestals, Ljubljana (SI)
Mediterranea 18 Young Artist Biennale, Under the hayrack, Tirana (AL)
Gallery Equrna, Difference between two bodies, Ljubljana (SI)
Gallery Zelenica, Exhibition of Slovenian contemporary art, Ljubljana (SI)
2016
Gallery Bianca Volta – La Ville Ouverte/Mediterranean Landscape; Reading, Viterbo (IT)
Gallery KastellWindsor European Creative Camp 016 – Live
for today/tomorrow, Human, Germany (Rettenbach)
Gallery BiancaVolta, performance, Missing link, Viterbo (IT)
Gallery ŠKUC, Personal, Ljubljana (SI)
Gallery UGM – OHO exhibition, This is (not) a walking piece, Maribor (SI)
ALUO LXX. Past, The present, Future, with artwork The other view and The story, Gallery Jakopič, Ljubljana (SI)
2022
Emergency Exit, MSUM, Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova, Ljubljana (SI)
Art Quarter, Budapest (HU)
2020
MMSU Reka (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art), David Maljković with the Collection, Rijeka (CRO)
Gallery Nova (WHW Collective gallery), Zagreb (CRO)
2019
Gallery Hiša culture, Pivka (SI)
Gallery Mohsen, Tehran (IN)
ŠKUC Gallery, Ljubljana (SI)
2018
MLZ art dep, Trieste (IT)
Center For Contemporary Arts Celje (SI)
Gallery Kunsthalle, Thinking about images, Graz (AT)
P74 Gallery, OHO Young Visual Artist Award 2018, Deus ex machina, Ljubljana (SI)
Center For Contemporary Arts, Celje (SI) Likovni salon, Rol the sleeves, Celje (SI)
Gallery Kortil, Thinking (about) images, Imag(in)e Ka-mize, Rijeka (CRO)
2017
GalleryGallery and Gallery KinoSiska, Bodies on pedestals, Ljubljana (SI)
Mediterranea 18 Young Artist Biennale, Under the hayrack, Tirana (AL)
Gallery Equrna, Difference between two bodies, Ljubljana (SI)
Gallery Zelenica, Exhibition of Slovenian contemporary art, Ljubljana (SI)
2016
Gallery Bianca Volta – La Ville Ouverte/Mediterranean Landscape; Reading, Viterbo (IT)
Gallery KastellWindsor European Creative Camp 016 – Live
for today/tomorrow, Human, Germany (Rettenbach)
Gallery BiancaVolta, performance, Missing link, Viterbo (IT)
Gallery ŠKUC, Personal, Ljubljana (SI)
Gallery UGM – OHO exhibition, This is (not) a walking piece, Maribor (SI)
ALUO LXX. Past, The present, Future, with artwork The other view and The story, Gallery Jakopič, Ljubljana (SI)
SELECTED WORKS
The Same Sweat is Still Flowing Through the Same Pores, #3
Neža Knez, 2022
The Same Sweat is Still Flowing Through the Same Pores, #3
3 canal voice essay (34’00”)
16mm film loop with lens
2 x animation loop, light objects, kinetic object fill with water, lens, objects
MSUM, Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova, Ljubljana, SI
Curated by Ana Mizerit, Bojana Piškur, Zdenka Badovinac, Igor Španjol
Photo@Jaka Babnik
The Same Sweat is Still Flowing Through the Same Pores, #1
Neža Knez, 2021
The Same Sweat is Still Flowing Through the Same Pores, #1
Video installationvideo essay (17’16”)
16mm film loop (54”)
Vibrating object fill with water, melting ice block on the street
City Gallery Ljubljana, Ljubljana, SI
Photo@Neža Knez
Y? Project
Neža Knez, 2019, 2020
Y? Project
Road trip project: a four-member team of artists went on a journey (from Serbia to New York) in a Yugo car to search for traces of the car’s history)
Collaboration with Danilo Milovanović, Toni Poljanec, Luka Erdani
Photo@Y?