Countess Janja

MAJA ŠIVEC

Born in Slovenj Gradec, Maja Šivec now lives and works in Maribor. In 2001, she completed her studies at the Faculty of Economics and Business, but then shifted her focus to photography. In 2009, she enrolled for visual art studies at the Maribor Faculty of Education while working, and in 2013, earned the title of Professor of Art Education. She was a long-term employee of Foto Klub Maribor, which she joined as an active member in 2000. She organises and also attends photo and art projects. She has shown her work in solo and group exhibitions in Slovenia and abroad, and has received a number of awards and recognitions for her creative work in photography.

Countess Janja

In her photos, the author portrays the past and transfers it to the present in her own elementary way. Rather than a historical character, Countess Janja is one of many women who dedicated their life at court to love, passion and seduction. Her spirit emanates from love. Countess Janja is the portrait of all countesses living in the castle and of each one separately. Each of them has dedicated her life to love and to each of her loved ones. The photographer has captured this very aspect in her lens.

It is in the forgotten, destroyed and lost records on the events related to the countess that infuse additional mysticism into the photographs. The author creates a particular atmosphere with reflections and blurred scenes disappearing in the shadow of what is portrayed. Love and lust are displayed with dimmed, tender and seductive eyes evoking lovemaking and intimacy in each individual who might identify with the countess. The Turnišče castle with its surroundings where the photos were taken is of secondary importance; the countess could tell her story regardless of the setting. However, the author has decided to place it there.