"As a special territory within the art fair in Vienna - a city that is an important cultural center at the crossroads of East and West, past and future - ZONE 1 is dedicated to showcasing progressive positions among the artists represented by the galleries, whose practice has been or is being shaped by their involvement in the Austrian context. ZONE1 offers a glimpse into the emerging Viennese and Austrian art scene by paying special attention to young artists and the galleries that support them. As an indicator of the vitality of the gallery scene and possible directions in which it might develop in the future, ZONE 1 also functions as a kind of incubator, hosting the possible intersections of market dynamics and emerging artistic and curatorial perspectives.

My curatorial work has emerged in dialogue with art practices that promote critical awareness and exploration of radical change and
possibilities created by new technologies. Practices that are motivated by a desire to inhabit a different reality than the socially, politically, and environmentally precarious one we have inherited, and that go beyond simply reflecting on the current state of the world to imagine, prototype, and test new narratives for other possible (not just human) futures. I am excited to take on the role of curator of this year's ZONE 1, as it provides an opportunity to expand this dialogue and my area of interest with questions, approaches, and perspectives from a younger generation of artists in Austria."

Tjaša Pogačar

Tjaša Pogačar is a curator, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Šum magazine in Ljubljana. In addition, Pogačar works as a curator and producer of new media art at the Atol Institute project in Ljubljana and is the curator of ISKRA DELTA - 34th Ljubljana Graphic Biennale.

ZONE 1 is supported by the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Public Service and Sports.

Exhibition text German

Exhibition text English

In her artistic practice Julia Belova explores the relevance of the Baroque and connects this period with the present. She experiments with the aesthetics of the religious baroque and creates a collage of its elements, fetishizing physicality and sexuality. Through plastic porcelain, which she uses as the main material for her sculptures, she explores the main conflict of this absolutist era, the conflict between a social role imposed by society and individual authenticity. According to the artist, this conflict still exists today, especially for women and representatives of the LGBT+ community. The vibrant life of her body objects stands in stark contrast to the lifeless porcelain from which they are created.

All photos:art-documentation.com