Pollinators of Slovenia combines social design and documentary to explore the crucial roles of pollinators and their fragile state in times of ecological collapse. In a captivating collaboration, Studio Airport and Emergence Magazine create an interactive digital video series, which also serves as a call to raise awareness and care for bees. The exhibition is a journey through the landscapes of Slovenia, revealing the patterns and rhythms of a land where pollinators are at the heart of daily life.
In Slovenia, beekeeping has deep, traditional roots, the ancient practice was granted UNESCO World Heritage status, and Slovenian beekeepers have led the way in adapting European legislation to support and protect colonies of pollinators. This video installation invites you to journey across the landscapes of Slovenia to discover the patterns and rhythms of a land where pollinators are held at the heart of daily life. The stories gather a dynamic cast, a forager who shares his bed with bees, small-scale regenerative family farms, two urban beekeepers, and a chef who runs a bee-driven farmstay, all of whom are finding new ways to nurture pollinators in this time of ecological degradation.
“If an ecosystem is a tapestry, constantly being woven, then pollinators are the weavers: sowing pollen from one plant to another, making it possible for them to flower and bear their fruits. A changing climate and shrinking habitats are bringing pollinator populations into sharp decline, threatening not only the health and vibrance of ecosystems but the stability of the global food supply,” the creators of the project share their motivation.
Directed by Bram Broerse, Art Directed by Maurits Wouters, Produced by Emergence Magazine and Studio Airport, Research and Graphic Design by Anže Petelinšek, Cinematography by Luuk de Kok and Mischa van Schajik, Sound Design and Music by Julian Tjon Sack Kie, Narration by Tisa N. Herlec
