Art & Wine

A compass for the contemporary art world & wine tasting

Anthropocene, fauna and flora: dreamscapes, apocalypse, fantasy and memory

This lecture explores how the depiction of living and non-living nature has transformed throughout art history, and how artists have used landscape, plants, animals and mythological beings to reflect their relationship with the world. From Renaissance ideals of harmonious order through Baroque symbolism and Romantic fascination with natural forces to modernist experiments and contemporary art, the lecture traces how nature becomes a space for fantasy, dream, memory and reflection on possible extinction.

Central to the discussion is the concept of the Anthropocene - an era in which human activity fundamentally reshapes the planet. The lecture examines how contemporary artists respond to ecological crises, vanishing species and changing landscapes, as well as questions about human coexistence with other forms of life. Alongside apocalyptic visions emerge imaginative worlds, personal mythologies and narratives that blend reality with fantasy.

The programme presents works by historical and contemporary artists engaging with themes of nature, metamorphosis and mythological narratives - from classical inspirations and Renaissance allegories through Symbolist visions and Surrealist landscapes to contemporary artistic approaches. Czech artists featured include Jan Merta, František Skála and Martin Salajka, whose works interweave personal stories, imagination and a relationship with the natural environment. The selected works demonstrate how art creates alternative worlds and opens questions about the planet's future and humanity's place within it.

The programme includes a tasting of seven wines thematically linked to individual topics and artists. Refreshments will feature Slovenian delicacies.