From the series Perfect Day
While Banská Štiavnica in central Slovakia is a photogenic historical mining town in its own right, this summer it will once again become a hub of contemporary photography. From 6 June to 15 July, the second edition of the Paradajs Photo Fest will present a wealth of visual inspiration through compelling exhibitions held in unconventional venues. Fifteen exhibitions by artists from Slovakia and across Europe – including world-renowned photographer Txema Salvans and the enfant terrible of the Slovak art scene, Andrej Dúbravský – will enliven both the historic centre and the outskirts of this enchanting town.
What: Paradajs Photo Fest
When: June 6 and July 15
Where: Various venues of Banská Štiavnica
Access: free
Web site: Paradajs Photo Fest > program | PARADAJS PHOTO MAG
During the opening weekend, from 6 to 8 June, visitors will be able to experience Banská Štiavnica in a new light – through the lens of photography. As the festival’s subtitle “site-specific” suggests, the programme will take place in a range of unexpected locations, such as a bookshop, antique store, former mine, hairdresser’s salon, and cinema. Several exhibitions will also be presented in public spaces throughout the town.
“The opening weekend’s programme unfolds like a journey in search of photography,” said Vanda Mesiariková, the festival organiser, as quoted in a press release. “Together with the exhibiting artists, we will take a guided walk through the town, gradually opening each exhibition, accompanied by various events and concerts.”
The festival’s accompanying programme includes readings, theatre performances, experiential photography, picnics, presentations, a marketplace, film screenings, discussions, and live music. Exhibiting artists Txema Salvans and Tomasz Kawecki will participate in Friday’s discussion. On Saturday night, FVCK_KVLT will take the stage, while the opening weekend will also feature performances by Nowalover, Rabbit Slow, and Charms Kids.
And the stars are…
The festival’s headline guest will be Spanish photographer Txema Salvans, who has earned international acclaim for his series The Waiting Game. At Paradajs Photo Fest, he will present his project Perfect Day – a bittersweet collection offering a profound commentary on the contradictions of post-industrial civilisation. Over 15 years, Salvans travelled the Mediterranean coastline, capturing people enjoying moments of leisure against stark industrial backdrops.
From the series Perfect Day (source: Txema Salvans)
“I’ve always been fascinated by the physical and emotional resilience of the human species,” he says. “We are, in many ways, enslaved by our childhoods, which we continue to grapple with as adults. We reinterpret those formative experiences through the environments we create. The Mediterranean bears deep scars from our actions – yet we adapt. That is what Perfect Day explores.”
Polish photographer Arkadiusz Gola will present Black and White Land, a series documenting life in industrial Upper Silesia – often referred to as the “Black Land” for its legacy of heavy industry. His black-and-white images reflect both stark reality and poignant beauty, depicting everything from closed mines and poverty to human resilience, faith, and the enduring search for meaning.
Black and White Land (source: Arkadiusz Gola )
“I am very pleased that this series will be part of the festival, which also opens space for themes related to mining, industry, and ecology,” says Gola. “Upper Silesia, which I explore through photography, is one of the most industrialised regions in Europe.”
Tomasz Kawecki presents Deeple (Den), a dreamlike series inspired by memories of his childhood home. As acclaimed photographer Alec Soth remarked: “When looking at Kawecki’s photographs, the viewer is drawn into visions of anthropomorphic objects, dark forests, and fires in ponds.” The images, created in collaboration with his grandmother in the house where he was raised, evoke the limitless imagination of childhood and the joy of exploring the world.
Deeple (Den) (source: Tomasz Kawecki)
Painter Andrej Dúbravský will take an unconventional turn, exhibiting a series of self-published zines created during the pandemic in his home in Rastislavice, a small village in eastern Slovakia. Entitled Andrej, the collection includes diary entries, illustrations, and photographs – many taken in his own garden.
In an age of digital saturation, the printed zine has proven to be a powerful form of expression. Readers wrote back to Dúbravský, shared stories, and responded to his reflections. The zine became a two-way channel – a communal space and a rare form of intimacy between the artist and his audience.
From zine Andrej by Andrej Dúbravský (source: Andrej Dúbravský)
The exhibition will offer an intimate glimpse into the artist’s extraordinary year. Visitors will be able to flip through the zines, explore individual editions and view them as both standalone works and parts of a larger narrative – one that captures a unique moment in both personal and social history, the organisers said.
Prize-winning Slovak photographer Boris Németh will present his project How Are You, Slovakia?, a visual and personal record that merges portrait photography with handwritten reflections from people across the country.
“Everyone I photograph receives an instant print and writes a personal message for me –sharing their emotions, memories, and reflections on life. Each portrait becomes part of a broader statement about how the nation is feeling in the current climate,” explains Németh. “Together, the images and messages form a mosaic of contemporary Slovak perspectives.”
From the project How Are You, Slovakia? (source: Boris Németh )
Old photo technology demonstrated, too
The festival will also highlight a new addition to the legacy of Banská Štiavnica native Dežo Hoffmann, known internationally for his iconic photographs of The Beatles and other music stars. His work will be displayed in the house where he was born, which today houses a museum dedicated to his life and work.
Other featured artists include Zuzana Pustaiová, Jana Gombiková, Karina Golisová and Rita Koszorus, Monika Stacho, David Macháč, Jakub Juhász and Michaela Cagáňová, Lenka L. Lukačovičová, Michal Zahornacký, and Boris Németh. A group exhibition titled Grey Zone will present the work of students from the Institute of Creative Photography in Opava.
During the opening weekend, visitors can also witness the 19th-century photographic process known as wet plate collodion, demonstrated live by Dino Rekanovic and Michael Laubsch at the Wet Plate Collodion Portrait Studio.
