Theory has always operated a little like a franchise: recurring characters move across cities and institutions, random encounters generate spin-offs, and separate trajectories eventually meet in unexpected crossovers. What connects them is often only legible in retrospect.
Speakers: Jernej Markelj, Patricia Reed, Ruby J. Thelot, Tisa Troha, Günseli Yalçınkaya
Moderators: Neja Berger, Lea Sande
The collaboration between Aksioma and the Weibel Institute for Digital Cultures unfolds within an existing network of theorists, artists, and cultural agents, formed through years of exhibitions, events, publications, friendships, and encounters across Ljubljana, Vienna, Amsterdam, Berlin, London and elsewhere. Some characters already share extensive backstories; others have occupied adjacent storylines without ever appearing in the same scene. The current collaboration activates one constellation within this larger universe and adds a few new plotlines to it.
Berlin-based artist, writer, and lecturer Patricia Reed joins this universe as a fellow at the Weibel Institute, developing a forthcoming essay for the PostScriptUM series from her research stay. London-based internet folklorist Günseli Yalçınkaya makes another appearance at Aksioma through a Weibel Institute fellowship, contributing another essay to the series. Jernej Markelj returns to the Slovenian publishing landscape in a homecoming arc with Cabin Fever, joining PostScriptUM from his position at the University of Amsterdam. Meanwhile, in Ljubljana, Tisa Troha continues a local narrative with Foreign Bodies, the fourth issue of the multithread series, while New York-based designer, artist, and cyberethnographer Ruby J. Thelot joins the line-up, offering a first glimpse of The Death of Images, the fifth issue of the series.
Like any extended universe, intellectual networks produce their own lore by continuously rewriting the significance of what came before. Minor cameos become origin stories, abandoned subplots resurface as major arcs, and yesterday’s red herring is retconned into tomorrow’s foreshadowing. With every new crossover, ideas move into different contexts, conversations acquire new dimensions, and existing connections generate further work. The Theory Cinematic Universe adds another episode to this ongoing exchange, bringing several storylines together while leaving enough unresolved threads for whatever comes next.
Across five presentations and two panel discussions moderated by Neja Berger and Lea Sande, the event assembles its cast somewhere between a season finale and a cliffhanger, just as the next phase is about to begin.
No prior knowledge of the franchise is required. Dedicated viewers may recognise recurring characters, unresolved plotlines, and clues concerning what comes next.
COLOPHON
The Theory Cinematic Universe, Symposium
Curated by: Sophie Publig (Weibel Institute), Janez Fakin Janša (Aksioma Institute)
Speakers: Jernej Markelj, Patricia Reed, Ruby J. Thelot, Tisa Troha, Günseli Yalçınkaya
Moderators: Neja Berger, Lea Sande
Production: Aksioma – Institute for Contemporary Art, Ljubljana, 2026
Coproduction: Kino Šiška Centre for Urban Culture
Partner: The Weibel Institute for Digital Cultures / The University of Applied Arts Vienna
Supported by: the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia
