Garden of Eden

• Photographer
  Ana Straze, Slovenia
• Website
  https://anastraze.wixsite.com/anastraze
• Instagram
  https://www.instagram.com/anastraze/

The basis of my creation is a wish for visual presentation of things that I feel and things that I think about.« The state of nakedness in the traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam has always represented one of the problem cores of religion, cultural context/surroundings and consequently depiction/observation. Nakedness can be seen as a state of sacredness (nothing is concealed), purity and liberty on one side, and on the other, it can represent a field of moral questions and taboos.

Ana Straže, born 1982 in Celje. Earned master’s degree (2013) at Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering in Ljubljana, course: Graphic and interactive communication; field of research: Photography in contemporary art. Cooperated in collective exhibitions and achieved Slovene as well as international achievements. Lives and creates in Celje, Slovenia.

Awards INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITION:
2017: These flowers will never die, Ex-restaurant Majolka, Celje;
In cooperation with Zavod Celeia Celje - City marketing, SI.
2017: Dog Days, Gallery Plevnik - Kronkowska & Celje FOKUS, SI.
2016: Malcolm, Celje FOKUS; Festival of authorial photography, Celje, SI.
2016: Garden of Eden, Gallery Plevnik - Kronkowska, Celje, SI.
2014: Apathy, Oton Župancic Library, Ljubljana, SI.
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GROUP EXHIBITION:
2018: Postcards, Racka Gallery, Celje, SI.
2017: Garden of Eden, Match Gallery, Ljubljana, SI.
2016: Notations & Postcards, Gallery of Contemporary Art, Celje, SI.
2016: Garden of Eden, Gallery of Contemporary Art, Celje, SI.
2014: Apathy, AQ Gallery, Celje, SI.
2013: Garden of Eden, AQ Gallery, Celje, SI.

Achievements:
2018: Digital Camera – Magazine for contemporary photographer, No. 87, 03/2018, Featured, SI.
2016: Accepted photos, PhotoVogue Portfolio, VOGUE Italia.
2010: Publication in the book: In Pursuit of the Sublime,1x.com, Yearbook 2010 – Special Edition, Sweden.

Competitions (Selection):
2016: Garden of Eden, IPA, The International Photography Awards 2016 (Honorable Mention) Los Angeles, USA.
2014: Garden of Eden, Photodays - Rovinj, FINALISTS 2014; Nude/Body; 4TH PLACE, Croatia.
2012: 7th Emirates Photography Competition – Certificate for accepted photos, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
2012: Artavita; Honorable Mentions for participation in the 2nd Art Contest organized by Artavita.com, Awarded work: Apathy. Curator: Despina Tunberg, USA.
2011: Apathy, 7th photo Exhibition, Klak entitled "THE PASSION", 1st place for the series Apathy, Laško, SI.
2011: Triple Triptych, 2nd Edition Julia Cameron Award Winners (Honorable Mention) UK.
2010: Triple Triptych, EMZIN- Slovenian magazine for creative culture; Photo of the Year 2010, short-listed with the series "Triple Triptych", Ljubljana.
2009: ‘The DIGA’, Award: BOS – Best of Show, 2x Medal, 25x Honorable Mention, 7x Honorable Mention, USA