ATLAS Ljubljana – Elly Van Eeghem

Between 2021 and 2023, ATLAS, a temporary collective of artists, critical thinkers and cultural workers, created mappings to work around four central themes of the European project BEPART: power dynamics, collective policy, redefining the public, and the significance of a particular place.

Apart from several collective working sessions in Ghent, ATLAS engaged in residencies abroad. For one or two weeks, ATLAS members collaborated in Ljubljana, Marseille, Riga, etc.

In October 2021, Elly joined the residency in Ljubljana, together with Marieke De Munck, Samah Hijawi, Lieselot Siddiki, Leontien Allemeersch, Chris Rotsaert, Fatih Devos, Evelyne Coussens, May Abnet, Andy Sarfo, Max Pairon & Jorik De Wilde. Four of them collaborated on a public action and video that was shared with the audience during City of Women Festival.

The Path of Memories and Companionship
Bike action around the city
Video 10′
Camera: Andy Sarfo, Elly Van Eeghem, Jorik De Wilde, Leontien Allemeersch
Editing: Andy Sarfo
With the support of: Arts Centre VierNulVier, Creative Europe Beyond Participation, City of Women festival Ljubljana

During the Second World War, the city of Ljubljana was fenced off with barbed wire.
This closed border is now an open walkway of 33 km circling around the city.
It is named the path of memories and companionship.
The historical contrast between closure and opening
resonates in some words by local residents we encountered
who question the current closure or limits of our society.
The bike as a sign of protest seemed the perfect vehicle
to memorize these words.

In memory of the person who said:
*I am enough.*

In memory of the person who said:
*Newcomers…*
*Hmmm…*
It’s not easy for them to come into Slovenia.
And it’s even harder to stay.

In memory of the person who said:
Let’s open the city for everyone.
And not only for the chosen ones.

In memory of the person who said:
*We should find a new common.*

In memory of the person who said:
We went to the skyscraper
closer to the sun and the blue sky,
forgetting that we’re too small for two
and the sad room is ours.

In memory of the person who said:
*At least we didn’t colonize anyone.*

In memory of the person who said:
*Everybody has a right to the city.*

In memory of the person who said:
I’m done with talking, asking, advocating.
I just want to start building our housing cooperation.

In memory of the person who said:
We write a law ourselves
to have the right to build for free.

In memory of the person who said:
*Who will steal the next generation?*

In memory of the person who said:
*You have to take off your headphones*
*to hear the madness of the world.*

Closing happening at the Old Power Station Elektro