Red Dawns festival to address sexual violence
Ljubljana, 2 March - Returning to its full format, the 24th feminist and queer festival Red Dawns will open on Thursday evening with a performance by visual artist Tatiana Kocmur at the Alkatraz Gallery in Ljubljana, which will be dedicated to all victims of sexual violence. Multiple events will take place in the capital and some in Maribor.
Ljubljana
The Metelkova alternative arts centre.
Photo: Daniel Novakovič/STA
File photo
The opening performance titled The Following Body addresses pressing issues of the past and present regarding physical, sexual an physical violence. It also explores language, expression and pain with visual and sound effects. The live composition was inspired by the artist's discussions with people who have experienced sexual violence in their youth.
As a prelude to International Women's Day, the Silver Thistle for the most sexist statement of the previous year will be handed out on 7 March.
A concert series titled Concert Dawns will kick off the same day with Eva Mulej and Tine Vrabič giving their first public performance together. Also on the programme will be Mojca Zupančič who will present sonic meditations.
On 8 March, the Patriarchy Kills! protest is scheduled to take place in Congress Square, followed by a poetry night. A discussion on the feminist work Feminism is for Everybody by American author and activist Bell Hooks will be held the following day.
The festival will also feature a diverse film programme. The Feminist Film Festival will take place online from 8 to 12 March, in addition to a porno film night and one on feminist and queer DIY film production.
In the exhibitions part of the programme graphic designer Hanna Juta Kozar will put on display Mi Corazon at Metelkova art centre, and Iris Pokovec her exposition They Came to be The Crowd at the Alkatraz Gallery.
The festival will run until 12 March.