IztokK

As a photographer, filmmaker, artist and tutor, I tell stories of our lived experiences – through performative settings, alter egos, and landscapes. I work from a queer emancipatory mindset.

I was born in Slovenia (then a part of Yugoslavia). Even before my own queer story began, it was already fed by the 80’s, a time in which market socialism was crumbling. Artists – queer and non–queer – were connected into a progressive movement and with the whole world. Through their radical expression, they gave a sharp comment on the hypocrisies of the failing system surrounding them.

This movement continued into the 90’s and the early 00’s. At the time, I found myself amidst a lively activist community in Ljubljana. I cherish their heritage of a radical disassembly of patriarchy and creating a life outside of the stifling limitations and traditionalism of capitalism.

I work with both professional performers and people without that experience. Through conversations and exchanges, we arrive at performative actions. This embodiment of a person into an alter ego in their imagined habitat is felt throughout my work.

I am now doing the same with myself as my own alter ego, Smutty Smut. 

Both my autonomous work and commissioned projects – spanning film, photography, and performance – have been presented at venues including Eye Filmmuseum, Framer Framed, Museum Arnhem, ImagineIC, the Centre of Contemporary Arts (Celje), during the Pride Art Route Amsterdam, and at various film festivals.

I have been teaching moving image since 2016, starting at HKU Design (Utrecht) and, for the past seven years, at the Royal Academy of Art (KABK) in The Hague. 

I am based in Haarlem, The Netherlands.