Opening: Tuesday, 2 September at 8 pm

Photon – Centre for Contemporary Photography (Ljubljana)

In his series of photographs Jebodrom, Jaka Babnik deals with contemporary phenomena concerning public spaces by taking the role of an active observer, documentarian and commentator. Jebodrom is a slang term used across the Balkans to denote popular locations known for their adventurous public sex activities. Babnik documents these more or less concealed spots, (usually) on the margins of the urban environment, in a distinctly topographic manner and from a sociological and anthropological perspective. Despite being seemingly deserted, these spots nevertheless serve a very particular function.

Babnik sublimates these marginal, derelict, disreputable places, which have become infamous for their function, making the locations themselves his focal point. The photographs show spaces without figures or action, wholly emptied out and static, except for the accumulation of a very specific type of waste. Babnik’s attention is on locations themselves.

Jaka Babnik (1979) graduated from social studies and history at the Faculty of Arts (University of Ljubljana). However, he has pursued his career both as a photographer as well as a cinematographer since 1996. Between 1998 and 2006 he worked as the editor of photography for the Slovenian-Croatian skateboard magazine Pendrek. His work as an author and director of several renowned Slovenian skateboard movies, such as Damage (2002) and Listen to Srecna Mladina (2006). He co-founded the trans-Balkan street magazine Kontejner in 2006, which he remained the editor of until 2009. Series We are dogs! earned him a second place award at 2010 Emzin Photography of the year in Slovenia. He currently works as a freelance photographer and a co-owner of Rostfrei Publishing House.

www.jakababnik.com