Medzipulse
An open carriage of the cultural express transforms into an intimate, pulsating space – a transitional landscape between strangers. Two aluminum spheres, suspended in the space like silent points of tension, await touch in the work Medzipulse. Each of them is separate, inactive, without a voice. Music emerges only at the moment of connection. One person touches the first sphere. Another, the second. Only when these two individuals connect – through the touch of their hands – is the circuit completed. In that moment, the space resonates with gentle harp tones. Like the music of trust.
The train route has 16 stops / 16 harp compositions / 16 light colours – and the work is loosely, metaphorically connected to them. Each represents a potential chapter. During the journey, however, the installation remains silent. Only at the moment of connection between two people does it select its tones and colour. The stops do not function as a fixed structure, but as a hidden framework: an invisible score from which a unique, unrepeatable moment emerges with each touch.
The work does not function individually. It requires the presence of another. It compels a decision: to remain isolated, or to enter a brief, unplanned connection. The train becomes a place of anonymous encounters. Movement without anchoring. People side by side, yet separated. The work disrupts this isolation – offering a moment of conscious connection. 16 stops = 16 opportunities to connect. Each different, each unrepeatable. Touch here is neither romantic nor personal. It is elemental. Functional. Necessary for the creation of sound. A familiar or unfamiliar passenger becomes, for a moment, a co-creator.
We create a situation in which random passengers cross the invisible boundary between them. We aim to transform the anonymity of public space into a brief, shared experience. To connect the physical movement of the train with the emotional trajectory of the people within it.
The work functions as a living music box tied to the route. It is not driven by a mechanism, but by people. The melody does not arise on its own – it arises between them. And it changes with every stop.
Workshop: Neon Collage on a Canvas Tote Bag
Glowing graphics on a historic press.
Would you like to take home an original canvas tote bag? At our workshop, you’ll try out the graphic technique of relief printing using a unique historic press. The creative inspiration comes from the Light Art Festival in Trenčín – expect castle silhouettes, beam motifs, and a play of light. Your task will be to compose your own collage from pre-cut graphic shapes and layer neon colors. The creative process is open, so feel free to let your imagination run wild and create an abstract composition based on your own vision. The result will be a canvas tote bag enhanced with your neon collage, shining beautifully not only during the day.
Marianna Ambrušová
She is a visual artist with several projects and exhibitions to her name. You may recognize her work from the community-based cultural and educational center Žito v Sýpke in Moravské Lieskové, where she created the entire visual identity – from the logo and standalone playground elements to a large-scale interior illustration exhibition. She also leads numerous art workshops, where she enthusiastically and patiently introduces art to people regardless of whether they are beginners or already experienced. Her work is playful, thoughtful, and always crafted with attention to detail. At the workshop, she will guide you through the printing technique with ease and inspire you to create your own neon collage.
References / portfolio:
majus.sk
diversart.sk
During the Light Art Festival in Trenčín, we invite you to hop on board the unique Cultural Express – a special music carriage that transforms your journey into an unforgettable artistic experience. The atmosphere on board will be brought to life by accordionist Dominik Krpelan from Prievidza, who will present an original accordion and heligonka performance.
You can look forward to a diverse repertoire – from traditional folk melodies to unconventional arrangements of modern hits. Dominik blends tradition with contemporary music in a way that surprises and captivates every listener. His music creates a unique atmosphere where folklore naturally meets a modern sound.
Dominik Krpelan is a graduate of conservatories in Žilina and Banská Bystrica, as well as the Academy of Arts in Banská Bystrica. Throughout his musical career, he has received multiple awards at prestigious competitions both in Slovakia and abroad.
Let yourself be carried away by the sound of the accordion and heligonka – traditional yet modern, always original. The Cultural Express will take you on a journey you won’t forget.
https://www.dominikkrpelan.sk/
