Can We Do That?

The fourth Ventilator event turns toward the notion of soft power, interpreted as the desire for endless self-reduction. In collaboration with philosopher and performer Lana Zdravković, the work unfolds as a mechanical ballet of desire—an ongoing sequence of promises, illusions, and insatiable repetition. The performers expose the paradox of liberation: that the expression of desire may not lead to freedom but to a transformed form of commodification.

Ventilator cycle organised by Zavod Sploh evokes movement, circulation, and exchange—between ideas, forms, techniques, and people. It opens space for experimentation, collaboration, and unexpected artistic encounters.

Soft Power — Concept by Kristina Aleksova (2023)

This edition focuses on the concept of soft power—Joseph S. Nye’s term for influence through cultural appeal rather than force. Drawing on ballet’s historical ties to political power, the research examines how this seemingly delicate art form has shaped social ideals, gender roles, and national identities. By intertwining ballet conventions with contemporary performance practices, the work explores how tradition and control coexist within today’s media-saturated world.