Nearly 50 participants, designers, architects, multimedia creators, will meet for the first time at Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO)  and actively begin their research and design process, which will be presented at the 25th Biennial of Design BIO 25: Faraway, So Close from 25 May to 29 October 2017. BIO 25 will present possible scenarios in the form of seven episodes that will attempt to enquire into global as well as local issues. At the Kick-off event curators Angela Rui and Maja Vardjan will present the concept of the Biennial, while international creatives figures Studio Formafantasma, Matali Crasset, Point Supreme, Didier Faustino, Studio Mischer’Traxler, Studio Folder and Odo Fioravanti will present their views on design.

FARAWAY, SO CLOSE will investigate what is distant, but not yet remote enough to penetrate our memory because it is still waiting for a semantic connotation and will turn the attention to what is close, but so close in space and time that it neither catches our attention nor our intention.

BIO 25 is conceived as a production platform and speculative scenography, where spatial and design practice starting from the existing Slovenian environment will be articulated. Slovenia will act as a charter for stimulating, discussing and testing this theoretical approach.

The participants chosen at the open call; MAO has received 375 applications from 38 countries all over the world, will start their work in 7 groups, where seven Slovenian individuals (Profiles) well known for their unique personal and professional projects outside the field of design: Andrej Detela, Renata Salecel, Mojca Kumerdej, Klemen Košir, Iztok Kovač, Marin Medak and Matej Feguš. Their knowledge will be interpreted by seven international creative figures (Translators), chosen for their ability to use design and architecture as tools for investigating contemporary issues: Studio Formafantasma, Matali Crasset, Point Supreme, Didier Faustino, Studio Mischer’Traxler, Studio Folder and Odo Fioravanti.

Each pair will act in a specific location that becomes a setting for a screenplay to be developed. UNDERGROUND RELEASE in the subterranean world of caves, OCCUPYING WOODS in the omnipresent forest, AFTER UTOPIA in a soon to be closed mining landscape, BRAND NEW-COEXISTENCE inside a contemporary urban ruin, COUNTRYSIDE RELOADED in a rural playground, RESILIENCE OF THE PAST in a quiet alpine setting that was once a battleground, NEW HEROES on the looming sea.
By testing disciplines outside their comfort zone, FARAWAY, SO CLOSE will present possible scenarios in the form of seven episodes that will attempt to enquire into global as well as local issues.

Schedule:
09.00 Registration
09.30 Welcome by Matevž Čelik, MAO
09.40 FARAWAY, SO CLOSE, BIO 25 introduction by curators Angela Rui and Maja Vardjan        
10.20 – 11.40 Translators and Profiles, moderated presentations
                          Studio Formafantasma, Andrej Detela / UNDERGROUND RELEASE
                          Matali Crasset, Matej Feguš / OCCUPYING WOODS
                          Point Supreme, Iztok Kovač / AFTER UTOPIA
                          Didier Faustino, Mojca Kumerdej / BRAND NEW COEXSISTENCE
                          Studio Mischer’Traxler, Klemen Košir / COUNTRYSIDE RELOADED
                          Studio Folder, Renata Salecl / RESILIENCE OF THE PAST
                          Odo Fiorovanti, Marin Medak / NEW HEROES 

Don't miss the opening of Common Places a part of BIO 25 and Future Architecture platform on 14 September at 7pm!