author: Tomaž Črnej
title: Kajuhova
year: 2011
media: photography
technique: digital photography
Kajuhova 11 is an apartment block where Tomaž Črnej has spent nearly his entire life. Over the years, he has witnessed systemic changes and, more notably, shifts in interpersonal relationships. The once-frequent social evening visits gradually diminished, leaving only brief and polite exchanges in the hallways.
This series, which focuses on the building and its residents, explores themes of relationships, coexistence, connection, and alienation. It comprises photographs of the building’s exterior and interior, as well as primarily color portraits of its residents, captured in their intimate living spaces, gazing directly at the camera. Through this direct gaze, Črnej emphasizes connection, achieved not only through the act of photographing but also by presenting the resulting images in a “shared” exhibition. This exhibition, hosted within the block itself, included a communal gathering where the residents contributed and participated.
Through this project, Črnej transformed his artistic practice into a means of fostering connection and unity among the tenants of Kajuhova 11, bridging divides and rekindling relationships within the community.
