Jože Barši (1955), based in Ljubljana, has degrees in architecture and sculpture, but his practice cannot be defined exclusively by either of these fields. In this sense also his meanders in art can be more easily understood: from the deconstruction of the sculptural object in the mid-1990s, to a shift to some sort of architectural explorations of space and their subsequent expansion into installations, the use value of an artwork, and its social and relational value, to more conceptual practices, such as walking, sound, conversations, readings, and registers of knowledge.

In 1997, Barši represented Slovenia at the Venice Biennale with a presentation organized by Moderna galerija. Two years later his work Public Toilet, a functional sculpture, was included in the first public presentation of the international Arteast 2000+ collection at the Autonomous Cultural Center Metelkova City; here the building actually served its purpose. Barši had several other presentations of his work under the auspices of Moderna galerija: at the U3 Triennials of Contemporary Slovenian Art in 1997 and 2010 and at group shows 7 Sins (Moderna galerija, 2004/2005) and Oscillations: 30 Days of Sound (Mala galerija, 2005). In 1999 he had a solo exhibition at the Mala galerija; entitled House, it presented his views on participation in art as the opposite pole of creating autonomous object.

In addition, Barši’s work has been featured at the Istanbul Biennial (1995), the 24th International Biennial of Graphic Arts (2001) and at numerous other international and Slovenian exhibitions, artist-in-residence programs, workshops, and conferences. He has won the Golden Bird award for visual inter-media art and works as a full-time professor at the Academy of FineArts and Design in Ljubljana.

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