Izabela Plucińska: Joko

24. - 28. 9. 2025, Vetrinj mansion, lobby

OPENING: Wednesday, 24. 9. 2025 at 14.00

This exhibition showcases puppets from Izabela Plucińska’s stop-motion animated short Joko (2024), based on Roland Topor’s satirical short story Joko’s Anniversary. With her distinctive sculptural style, Plucińska brings to life the grotesque and poignant world of Topor’s allegory, in which the absurdity of social conformity takes center stage. The meticulously crafted puppets—equal parts charming and unsettling—offer a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the artistry behind the film's darkly surreal atmosphere.

Joko received significant recognition on the international animation festival circuit. At the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the film won the Best Original Music Award for composer Aliaksandr Yasinski’s score. It was further honored with the Grand Prix at the 2024 Animator Festival (Animafest Zagreb), a distinction that qualifies it for Oscar consideration. Joko also received the Audience Award at Animaphix and the Best Animation Technique Award at Animage Festival, highlighting the film’s innovative use of over 600 clay puppets and a distinctive clay-painting style. Even during its development, the project gained attention, earning a Distribution Award at the 2022 Animarkt Stop Motion Forum.

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The exhibition is prepared in collaboration with the Slovene Animated Film Association.