Friendship – Bridges – Imagination
A Week of Creation, Photography, and Sharing
October 14–17, 2025, Trenčín
What does friendship mean in times of uncertainty? How do we build bridges between individuals, communities, and worlds? And what role does imagination play – the ability to see differently and more deeply?
Over four days in Trenčín, a group of young photographers from the Photography and Critical Practice Studio at the Department of Photography and New Media (Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava) will meet to explore themes of imagination, solidarity, belonging, and visual storytelling under the guidance of artistic mentors.
The results will include photographs, zines, and multimedia works created directly in Trenčín, responding to the local context.
The event consists of workshops and two public moments to which you are warmly invited:
October 15, 7:00 PM – Experimental Music Concert
(Location: Kontajner / Trenčín 2026)
October 17, 6:00 PM – Opening of the Collective Exhibition Created During the Workshops
(Location: Kontajner)
Throughout the week, the Kontajner space will serve as an open studio where you can observe the creative process live, talk with students, and peek behind the scenes of artistic creation.
PROGRAM
October 14, 2025 (Tuesday)
Polaroid Workshop
Lecturer: Mgr. art. Ema Gejdoš Lančaričová, ArtD.
The workshop offers an immersion into the world of Polaroid – its history, techniques, and experimental possibilities. Participants will learn methods such as emulsion lift, double exposure, and light painting, and will create their own Polaroid project to be later exhibited.
Schedule:
10:00–10:30 AM – Introduction, presentation of lecturer and participants
10:30 AM–12:30 PM – Basic techniques and experiments
1:30–2:30 PM – Advanced techniques
2:30–5:30 PM – Personal project work
5:30–7:00 PM – Selection of images and discussion
October 15, 2025 (Wednesday)
PhotoZine Workshop – Part I
Lecturers: Karina Golisová (photographer), Katarína Plačková (graphic designer)
This workshop focuses on creating an authorial photographic zine – from concept and image selection to editing and designing a visual narrative.
10:00 AM–12:30 PM – Introduction, thematic overview, photo editing
1:30–5:00 PM – Sequence building and zine structure
7:00 PM – PUBLIC CONCERT
Richard Hronský & Celestína Minichová
Experimental performance combining voice and electroacoustic music
Venue: Kontajner / Trenčín 2026
Admission free
October 16, 2025 (Thursday)
PhotoZine Workshop – Part II
Completion of photographic zines. Participants will focus on design, printing, binding, and final presentation.
10:00 AM–12:30 PM – Final selection and layout design
1:30–4:30 PM – Zine production (printing, folding, binding)
October 17, 2025 (Friday)
Final Preparations and PUBLIC EXHIBITION
10:00 AM–12:30 PM – Exhibition setup and final adjustments
1:30–4:30 PM – Installation
6:00 PM – Opening of the Collective Exhibition
Venue: Kontajner / Trenčín 2026
Admission free
The exhibition will present the outcomes of all workshops – photographic zines, Polaroid series, and multimedia projects exploring friendship, imagination, and togetherness.
ABOUT THE EVENT
Friendship – Bridges – Imagination
is a workshop focused on exploring the concepts of friendship, community, connection, solidarity, and imagination. Participants engage in both theoretical and practical reflection on how these ideas translate into artistic practice in times of social change.
The goal of the event is to connect art education with the city, the community, and the public.
The workshops are primarily intended for students, but members of the public can also join upon registration by email.
The public is also invited to the two main events – the concert (Oct 15) and the exhibition (Oct 17) – as well as to visit the open studio in Kontajner / Trenčín 2026 throughout the week.
ORGANIZERS
okolek Collective – Photography and Critical Practice Studio
Department of Photography and New Media
Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava
Concept and Artistic Direction:
Doc. Mgr. art. Olja Triaška Stefanović, ArtD.
Professional Collaboration:
Prof. Donald Weber (Aalto University, Helsinki)
Mgr. art. Karin Golisová
Lecturers:
Mgr. art. Ema Gejdoš Lančaričová, ArtD.
Mgr. art. Katarína Plačková
Mgr. art. Karin Golisová
Participants:
Students of the Photography and Critical Practice Studio – okolek Collective
Johanna Bukovský, Alžbeta Štrbová, Aneta Hradilová, Richard Hronský, Barbora Halmešová, Karla Šavrtková
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
🔹 The workshops are primarily designed for students of AFAD. Members of the public can register via email at: stefanovic@vsvu.sk.
Each workshop has 5 open spots for the public.
🔹 Throughout the week, the Kontajner space will function as an open studio – everyone interested in following the creative process and engaging in discussion is welcome.
🔹 Admission to the concert (Oct 15) and the exhibition (Oct 17) is free.
Partners:
AFAD, okolek Collective, and the Photography and Critical Practice Studio
