No Pain, No Gain

The first event in the Ventilator cycle focuses on the theme of sacrifice. While the brutality of ancient rituals may belong to the past, sacrifice remains a driving force of social progress. Society continues to demand submission to higher purposes—physical, mental, or moral—requiring the surrender of time, body, and even life for the common good. The intertwining of violence and devotion, and the ambiguity between victim and oppressor, reinforce the belief that progress is achieved through endurance and pain.

How much freedom is exchanged for security?
How many lives are given for health and beauty?
How much pain is tolerated for progress?

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.