Intriguing, conceptual art opens dialogue on war and socio-political trauma in Ljubljana

Walid Raad's Festival of (In)Gratitude runs from November 21, 2025 to May 17, 2026 and explores wars and socio-political trauma. The exhibition, held at the Moderna galerija (MG+) in Ljubljana, is characterized by a conceptual, post-documentary style that interrogates history, war and collective memory with a mix of ambiguity, fiction and irony.

The exhibition explores the impact of wars, political tensions and social change on bodies, memories and spaces through works from Walid Raad's long-running series: The Atlas Group (1989-2004) on Lebanese wars, Scratching on Things I Could Disavow on art infrastructures in the Arab world, and Sweet Talk: Beirut (Commissions) with documentation of Beirut streets and buildings. New pieces are in dialogue with Slovenian and (post) Yugoslav archives of the museum, which of course immediately expands the geopolitical scope. The artist uses photography, video, installation and performance to explore how history is created, rewritten and excluded by power structures. Instead of inserting marginal narratives, he focuses on impermanence, ambiguity and imagination, with a touch of humor and surrealism. This approach challenges conventional historicity by centering ephemeral, imaginary perspectives, with dialogues among Lebanese, Slovenian and post-Yugoslav archives for a layered reflection on violence and oblivion. Curator Zdenka Badovinac led the project.

Who is Walid Raad?

He is a world-renowned Lebanese-American contemporary artist, born in 1967 in Chbanieh, Lebanon. He lives and works primarily in New York and is professor of photography at Cooper Union and visiting professor at Bard College. His work focuses on the impact of war and trauma on memory, culture and representation, particularly the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990).

Practical Info

The expo runs from November 21, 2025 to May 17, 2026 at Cankarjeva 15 in Ljubljana. Guided tours by the artist himself are scheduled on January 22 and 24, 2026 at 5pm, in English and is free with a valid entrance ticket.

(MP/©The Global Entertainment/Illustration: Duncan Kidd via Unsplash)