Geometry of electrification - research

Šibenik is one of the first cities in the world whose streets were lit by electric energy. That heritage of modernization is omitted from the narrative about the city which rather emphasizes its medieval past as the most significant determinant of its identity. The research "Geometry of electrification" is conducted within the long-term project "Illuminovision", whose purpose is to incite the innovative processes of light articulation in public space via a festival format, but also via the interdisciplinary collaboration of different professions which tackle our attitude toward the environment in the country in which the light contamination is becoming more and more serious problem. This art research is conducted by the team of international artists in collaboration with local experts from the fields such as architecture, urbanism and visual media. Since the beginnings of introduction of electric energy into the urbanized every day life, that new form of energy changed the means and media of art production. Are we aware of the infrastructure that directly conditions both the artistic production and the production of every day life, as well as how to make an impact on that production, are just a few of questions we pose within this innovative research.

In July and September Sonja Leboš conducted archive research in the State Archive in Šibenik, National park "Krka" and the City Public Library "Juraj Šižgorić". Material that comprised different items about electrification and illumination of Šibenik (5 archival unsorted boxes in the State Archive in Šibenik), exhibition within the Nacional park "Krka", catalogues and prints connected to the theme in the City Public Library "Juraj Šižgorić" was studied.