Marie Maertens is an art historian by training, an independent exhibition curator, art critic and journalist. She recently was the artistic director of Bordeaux Art & Design and took care of the resident artists at the Fiminco Foundation, from which the Urban Odysseys exhibition arose. In 2022, she organized the Power Flower exhibition, at 109, as part of the Nice Biennale and In this world, I’m a stranger, at Hiflow, in Geneva. 

Humans are the focus of my work – their interactions with the environment and society, and their responses to challenging situations. Rather than focusing on the details of their faces or bodies, my interest lies in understanding their abilities when faced with unique life circumstances. I delve into their methods of problem solving, their determination to achieve goals, and their pursuit of finding happiness. At the core of my artistic journey is a commitment to human dignity that seamlessly integrates ethical considerations into my work.

Željko Beljan

Željko Beljan (Croatia, Zagreb) graduated from the Department of Animated Film and New Media at the Zagreb Academy of Fine Arts in 2021. Delving into the phenomenon of handicraft and its role in contemporary art practices, he explores textile and craftwork techniques as artistic media. Beljan also researches the connections between manual labor and amateur or hobbyist sports while encouraging audience participation in artwork creation. He was a finalist of the Radoslav Putar Award in 2023 and a WHW Akademija alumnus of 2022.

Anetta Mona Chișa

Anetta Mona Chisa (1975) lives and works in Prague. Between 1994 and 2000 she studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava. In 2006, together with Lucia Tkáčová she was awarded the Oskár Čepan Prize, and in 2011 she exhibited at the 54th Venice Biennale in the exhibition Performing History (with Lucia Tkacova and Ion Grigorescu). Anetta Mona Chisa’s artistic practice often takes place in the form of collaborative exhibitions and installations, and she is particularly concerned with discontinuities and transformation of the East European socio-political context.

Shadhin Kamruzzaman

Kamruzzaman Shadhin (b. 1974) is based in Dhaka and Thakurgaon, Bangladesh, Kamruzzaman Shadhin’s participatory practice incorporates installation, performance, video, and public art interventions exploring themes of migration, environment, and history. Shadhin’s work is shaped by his interactions with the people and communities he collaborates with, as well as his research of the materials he uses in his process.

Delia Popa

Delia Popa is a visual artist and works with mediums such as painting, video, installation, performance and participatory projects. Her current research focuses on the representation of landscape and local topography in relation to agriculture, gentrification and climate change. As an art pedagogue and cultural mediator she contributes to the development of life skills and visual culture among children and young people.

Mihaela Moldovan (Vezentan)

Born in Baia Mare, Mihaela Moldovan (Vezentan) lives and works in Bucharest. Since 2002 she has been a member of the ~28 group, dedicated to the exploaration of the representation and experiences of women in art through actions presented in Buchares. She has been a memeber of UAP since 2005.