RogExpo Exhibition Opening with a Community Plate and Feast
On November 20th, 2024 the annual production exhibition of Rog Centre, RogExpo, officially opened, showcasing around 30 selected works created during its first year of operation. The exhibition will be on display until February 8, 2025, featuring pieces developed in production laboratories and through residency programs such as Mladi Rog, Studio Rog, and Designer in Residency. Approximately 500 visitors attended the opening, enjoying a unique performance centered around a community ceramic plate designed for seed sprouting by Portuguese designer and resident Francisca Sottomayor.
The showcased works, displayed across all floors of Rog Centre, range from creations by amateur makers to professional designers. Group projects developed during relaxed evening workshops—spanning from lace-making to biomaterials experimentation—are also featured. “One highlight is the community tapestry,” noted Renata Zamida, Director of Rog Centre, during her speech. “Its creators gathered every Friday to craft this magnificent piece, which measures an impressive 5 meters wide and 6 meters tall.” She further emphasized, “None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our team of nearly 20 permanent collaborators and about 30 mentors across our production labs.”
Currently, the Rog Centre community boasts 1,700 active members. The space has provided residence and creative opportunities to 30 creators from Slovenia and abroad and enabled 55 creatives to work in project studios for periods of one to three years. “After one year of operation, we, the founders of Rog Centre—Ljubljana’s youngest public institution—are justifiably proud,” added Mateja Demšič, Head of the Cultural Department at the City of Ljubljana. “Rog Centre fills a vital niche in the creative sector, serving amateur makers and professional designers, architects, craftsmen, and engineers. It has become a popular gathering spot for a diverse audience.”
The opening celebration featured a community feast at a 20-meter-long table, designed in collaboration with the culinary studio Majaronka and led by Francisca Sottomayor. The event was accompanied by music from Tea Vidmar, followed by DJ Chekman later in the evening.
RogExpo Exhibition: Open Until February 8, 2025
The exhibition, curated by Alja Fir and Anja Radović with display designers Sara&Sara, is located in the mezzanine above the main staircase. It reimagines a design exhibition format, offering guided tours at least once a week (details available on the Rog Centre website).
RogExpo is part of the RogDizajnDnevi festival of sustainable design, which also includes RogKreaton and RogForum. This year’s overarching theme, *What Can We Learn from Our Ancestors?*, explores the intersection of traditional knowledge and modern design practices.