We invite you to a guided tour of the exhibition Totem, led by the artist Ján Triaška together with the curator Zora Rusinová.
Thursday, 20 November 2025 at 5:00 PM
Synagogue – Centre for Contemporary Art
The exhibition Totem explores how national identity and collective memory are constructed, raising questions about what remains when symbols lose their original function. Ján Triaška interprets Kriváň as a tribal totem—a symbol of Slovaks deeply connected to their territory and nature. At the same time, he reveals how such symbols are often simplified, idealized, or even exploited in political and cultural propaganda.
The installation overlays past and present: layering images, unconventional arrangements, and seemingly unrelated elements create a space for reflection on how society remembers and interprets its history. Symbols of Slovak “authenticity” are deconstructed with irony and playfulness: Kriváň becomes a pop-art image, Benka’s Guardians transform into shadows among ruins, and ivy withers, illustrating how ideals and symbols fade under the pressures of time and consumerism.
During the guided tour, you will have a unique opportunity to engage directly with the artist and curator, gain insight into the creative process, and explore the dialogue between past and present. The tour invites reflection on how collective memory is formed, the mechanisms behind its preservation and distortion, and the questions these processes raise for us today.
