Marko Peljhan: Isolabs OSIVV

Isolabs explores the boundaries of art and science and strives to preserve the precious ecological heritage of the Soča River, where nature and culture meet.

On 26 June 2025, the Xcentrum will host the opening of Mark Peljhan's exhibition Isolabs OSIVV.

Isolabs unfolds as a landscape of forensic intersections between art and science, stretching from the source to the delta of the Soča river. It encompasses fieldwork, environmental and remote sensing, mapping, reflection, and collaborative exchanges with local and global communities that connect the realms of art and science.

With advanced tools for sensing and recording biological, chemical, physical, and visual aspects of the environment, human understanding of what constitutes "nature" has expanded dramatically. Yet, to grasp the intricacies of complex biospheres as intertwined ecosystems, we must also integrate cultural, historical, and geological dimensions.

How can an Alpine river, flowing into the Mediterranean, with its material and cultural sedimentary deposits, deepen ecological thought?

The Soča river is both a fragile biosphere and a cultural treasure. Its Alpine reaches are marked by a perplexing mix of historical conflict, hydropower exploitation, sports tourism, pollution, and geological damage. In its lower course, the river subtly interacts with the urban fabric of Nova Gorica and Gorizia, while its outflow in the Adriatic sea forms a delicate new ecosystem.

The Isolabs project seeks urgent critical reflection and activist intervention, fostering on-site actions to address these challenges. The name Isolabs intertwines "iso", evoking both the concept of isolation and the Isonzo (Soča), with "labs", referring to the project’s network of laboratories and observatories. Its aim is to spotlight and act upon the pressing ecological, cultural, and historical narratives embedded in river Soča's journey.