Piše: Živa Jalovec
English text below
Nekateri festivalski spektakli nas navdušijo z velikostjo. Drugi z glasbo. Le redki pa uspejo združiti umetnost, tehnologijo, znanost in družbeni angažma v izkušnjo, ki obiskovalca spremlja še dolgo po zadnjem aplavzu. Takšen projekt je EMERGENCY EXIT, eden najbolj ambicioznih evropskih interdisciplinarnih performansov zadnjih let.
Projekt, ki ga soustvarjajo legendarna katalonska gledališka skupina La Fura dels Baus, festival EXIT Festival, umetniški kolektiv Eyesberg in glasbenik Satori, je letos po odmevnih predstavah na festivalih EXIT in Boom navdušil tudi občinstvo na Sea Star Festival. Gre za multimedijsko predstavo, ki združuje glasbo, performans, umetno inteligenco, projekcije v realnem času in več kot 40 nastopajočih.
Toda EMERGENCY EXIT ni zgolj vizualni spektakel. V središču projekta je vprašanje, ki postaja vse bolj neizogibno: kakšen odnos imamo ljudje do planeta, na katerem živimo?
O ideji, odzivih občinstva in prihodnosti projekta smo se pogovarjali z Jovano Zdjelarević iz ekipe EMERGENCY EXIT.
»Mir na Zemlji, mir z Zemljo«
Kaj je osrednja ideja oziroma pomen projekta EMERGENCY EXIT? Kaj želite, da obiskovalci odnesejo s seboj – čustveno in intelektualno?
V svojem bistvu EMERGENCY EXIT vodi ideja »Mir na Zemlji, mir z Zemljo«, ki opozarja na nujnost zaščite našega planeta in ponovnega premisleka o našem odnosu do okolja.
S pomočjo interaktivnih elementov in neposrednega vključevanja občinstva predstava obiskovalce približa resničnosti podnebnih sprememb in ekološke zanemarjenosti. Gre za izkušnjo, ki je hkrati zabavna in spodbuja razmislek.
EMERGENCY EXIT je nekakšna kolektivna meditacija o poti človeštva skozi zgodovino planeta. Predstava razkriva svet, ki je obenem osupljivo lep in izjemno krhek, vse bolj zaznamovan s posledicami naših lastnih dejanj. Planet je obstajal dolgo pred nami in, če ne bomo spremenili svojega ravnanja, morda ne bo ostal enak za prihodnje generacije.
Predstava nam nastavlja ogledalo ter omogoča pogled nase iz drugačne perspektive – takšne, ki jo je v vsakodnevnem toku informacij in motenj pogosto težko najti.
Projekt pa presega zgolj oder. Povezuje umetnike in kulturne delavce ter ustvarja prostor za sodelovanje, izmenjavo znanja in profesionalni razvoj. Nastajal je v sodelovanju z okoljskimi strokovnjaki, zato njegova sporočila temeljijo na znanstvenih dejstvih, delavnice pa umetnikom pomagajo postati ambasadorji okoljske odgovornosti v svojih skupnostih.
Končni cilj projekta ni zgolj zabavati, temveč navdihniti k dejanjem. Občinstvo, umetnike, festivalske ekipe, prostovoljce in partnerje vabi k soustvarjanju tako imenovanega Zemeljskega manifesta ter potrjuje vlogo umetnosti kot katalizatorja okoljskih sprememb.
»Nekateri obiskovalci so zapisali, da so se zaradi te predstave znova zaljubili v glasbo«
Ali projekt dosega učinek, ki ste si ga zamislili na začetku? Kako se je odzvalo občinstvo na festivalih EXIT in Sea Star?
»To je bila ena najbolj norih izkušenj, kar sem jih doživel na festivalu EXIT,« »Takšen nastop te pripravi do tega, da se zaljubiš v glasbo, tudi če te ta žanr sicer ne zanima« in »Na začetku sploh nočeš postati del tega potovanja, potem pa brez njega ne moreš več živeti« so le nekateri odzivi obiskovalcev.
Projekt vsekakor dosega učinek, ki smo ga želeli ustvariti, v nekaterih pogledih pa je celo presegel naša pričakovanja. Naš cilj ni bil zgolj predstaviti umetniško delo, temveč ustvariti prostor za dialog, razmislek in povezovanje okoli tem, ki so pogosto zahtevne, a hkrati zelo aktualne.
Odzivi občinstva na festivalih EXIT, Boom in Sea Star so bili izjemno spodbudni. Ljudje so predstavo doživljali zelo osebno in čustveno ter svoje vtise delili tako v živo kot na družbenih omrežjih. Posebej nas veseli, da projekt nagovarja ljudi v različnih kulturnih in nacionalnih okoljih, kar je bil eden naših ključnih ciljev.
Mednarodna zgodba sodelovanja
Kako je prišlo do sodelovanja med skupino La Fura dels Baus, festivalom EXIT, Satorijem in vsemi sodelujočimi umetniki?
Sodelovanje je nastalo okoli skupne vizije ustvariti ambiciozen umetniški projekt, ki združuje sodobni performans, okoljsko ozaveščanje in aktivno vključevanje javnosti.
La Fura dels Baus, Fundacija EXIT, Eyesberg in Satori so združili moči pri razvoju formata, ki lahko gostuje na različnih festivalih, hkrati pa ostaja tesno povezan z lokalnim okoljem vsake destinacije.
Umetniki so bili izbrani prek mednarodnih odprtih razpisov, ki so privabili ustvarjalce iz številnih disciplin in držav. Tako so se projektu pridružili umetniki iz Portugalske, Španije, Grčije, Hrvaške, Srbije ter Bosne in Hercegovine.
Z razvojem projekta so lokalni umetniki postali še pomembnejši del ustvarjalnega procesa. Njihove izkušnje in pogledi soustvarjajo vsako novo izvedbo, zato EMERGENCY EXIT ni zgolj gostujoča produkcija, temveč živo umetniško delo, ki raste in se spreminja z vsakim novim občinstvom.
Najprej glasba, nato svetovi
Je glasba nastajala kot odziv na vizualije ali sta se oba elementa razvijala hkrati?
Glasba je bila prvi element projekta in je predstavljala temelj celotne zasnove. Vizualni in performativni del sta se razvijala kot odziv na Satorijevo izvirno glasbo, zato vsi elementi skupaj tvorijo enotno umetniško pripoved.
Umetna inteligenca v službi planeta
Projekt uporablja vizualije v realnem času in okoljsko odgovorno odprtokodno umetno inteligenco. Kako zahtevna je izvedba takšne produkcije?
Za vizualno podobo je odgovoren kolektiv Eyesberg, ki ustvarja poglobljene umetniške svetove na presečišču umetnosti, tehnologije in performansa.
Za EMERGENCY EXIT so uporabili odprtokodne modele umetne inteligence, posebej učene na podobah narave. Tako so uspeli zajeti bistvo našega planeta in ga prenesti v mogočno avdiovizualno izkušnjo.
Generirane podobe se v realnem času združujejo s posnetki kamer, ki jih med predstavo nosijo sami performerji. Rezultat je organska povezava umetnosti, tehnologije in živega nastopa.
Več kot 60 ljudi na eni misiji
Koliko ljudi sodeluje pri projektu?
EMERGENCY EXIT združuje več kot 60 sodelujočih. Med njimi je 23 članov produkcijske, ustvarjalne in tehnične ekipe ter več kot 40 performerjev, ki projekt oživljajo na odru.
Projekt brez končne verzije
Kakšna je prihodnost projekta? Bi lahko postal stalnica festivalov po Evropi in svetu?
EMERGENCY EXIT je zasnovan kot živ in nenehno razvijajoč se format, ne kot dokončana produkcija.
Čeprav osrednje sporočilo ostaja enako, vsako izvedbo oblikujejo umetniki, lokacija in festivalski kontekst. Po premieri na festivalu EXIT in nastopu na Boom Festivalu leta 2025 se je projekt letos predstavil še na Sea Star Festivalu, naslednja postaja pa bo Španija.
Dolgoročna vizija je razvoj mednarodne potujoče produkcije, ki bo nagovarjala nova občinstva po Evropi in širše, pri tem pa ostala odprta za nove umetniške sodelavce in lokalne vplive.
Prav sposobnost prilagajanja je ena največjih prednosti projekta – omogoča mu, da se razvija skupaj z novimi generacijami umetnikov, festivali in občinstvom.
EMERGENCY EXIT tako ni zgolj predstava o prihodnosti planeta. Je poskus ustvariti novo vrsto festivalske izkušnje, v kateri zabava in odgovornost ne stojita vsaka na svojem bregu, temveč stopata z roko v roki. In morda je prav v tem njegova največja moč.
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EMERGENCY EXIT: Holding Up a Mirror to Planet Earth
Some festival spectacles impress with their scale. Others leave a mark through music alone. But only a handful manage to merge art, technology, science, and activism into an experience that stays with you long after the final note fades away.
EMERGENCY EXIT is one of those rare projects.
Created through a collaboration between La Fura dels Baus, EXIT Festival, Satori, Eyesberg, and dozens of artists from across Europe, the production transforms the festival stage into a living reflection of our relationship with the planet. Combining immersive electronic music, large-scale performance, real-time visuals, open-source AI, and environmental storytelling, EMERGENCY EXIT is far more than a show. It is a collective experience, a warning, and an invitation.
After captivating audiences at EXIT Festival, Boom Festival, and most recently Sea Star Festival, the project continues to evolve across borders, bringing together artists, scientists, activists, and festival-goers around a shared question: what kind of future are we creating for Earth?
We spoke with Jovana Zdjelarević from the EMERGENCY EXIT team about the vision behind the project, its surprising audience reactions, the complexity of its production, and why this ambitious performance could become a new model for environmentally conscious festivals worldwide.
By Živa Jalovec
What is the core idea or “meaning” behind EMERGENCY EXIT? What do you hope the audience takes away from this experience emotionally and intellectually?
At its core, EMERGENCY EXIT is guided by the idea of “Peace on Earth, Peace with Earth,” highlighting the urgent need to protect our planet and rethink our relationship with the environment. Through interactive elements and direct audience engagement, the performance brings spectators closer to the realities of climate change and ecological neglect, creating an experience that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
It is a collective meditation that invites us to reflect on humanity’s journey across planet Earth. A show that reveals a world that is as beautiful as it is fragile, and increasingly shaped by the consequences of our own actions. A planet that existed long before us and that, if we do not change, may not remain the same for future generations. This piece holds up a mirror, allowing us to see ourselves from a different perspective, one that is often difficult to find amid the constant flow of information and distractions that surround us.
Beyond the stage, EMERGENCY EXIT fosters collaboration among artists and cultural workers, creating opportunities for large-scale co-creation, exchange, and professional growth. Developed in consultation with environmental experts, the project ensures that its message is grounded in scientific knowledge, while workshops help artists become advocates for ecological responsibility within their own communities.
Ultimately, EMERGENCY EXIT seeks not only to entertain, but also to inspire action. It aims to mobilize audiences and artists alike, while inviting visitors, performers, festival staff, sponsors, and volunteers to contribute to the evolving Earth Manifesto, reinforcing the role of art as a catalyst for environmental awareness and change.
Do you feel the project is achieving the impact you originally envisioned? How has the audience reacted so far, especially at EXIT and Sea Star? Have there been any reactions that surprised you?
“One of the craziest experiences at EXIT Festival ever for me. Wild stuff,” “This set is the type of set that makes you fall in love with music even if you don’t listen to this genre,” and “When you don’t want to be part of this journey, but once you listen to it, you can’t live without it!” are just some of the comments we’ve received.
Definitely, EMERGENCY EXIT is achieving the kind of impact we originally hoped for, and in some ways even exceeding our expectations. From the beginning, our goal was not only to present artistic work but also to create spaces for dialogue, reflection, and connection around topics that are often difficult, yet highly relevant to people today. The audience response at EXIT Festival, Boom Festival, and Sea Star Festival has been very encouraging. People have engaged with the performances in thoughtful and emotional ways, and many have shared their impressions both online and in person. We have seen that the project resonates across different cultural and national contexts, which was one of our key objectives.
How did the collaboration between La Fura dels Baus, EXIT Festival, Satori, and all participating artists come together?
The collaboration was built around a shared vision of creating an ambitious artistic project that combines contemporary performance with environmental awareness and public engagement. La Fura dels Baus, EXIT Foundation, Eyesberg and Satori joined forces to develop a format that could travel across festivals while remaining deeply connected to the local context of each destination.
The artists were selected through international open calls, which attracted performers from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds. Through this process, we brought together artists from Portugal, Spain, Greece, Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Performers from Portugal and Spain took part in the performance at Boom Festival in July 2025 and will continue with the project at its next performance, scheduled for this autumn in Spain. Meanwhile, artists from Greece, Croatia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina performed at EXIT Festival and Sea Star Festival.
As the project evolved, local artists became an even more important part of the creative process. Their knowledge, experiences, and artistic perspectives helped shape each performance, ensuring that EMERGENCY EXIT is not simply a touring production, but a living work that adapts and grows with every new location and audience. The result is a truly international collaboration built on exchange, co-creation, and a shared commitment to using art as a catalyst for dialogue and (ecological) change.
Was the music created as a response to the visuals, or did both evolve simultaneously?
The music came first and served as the foundation for the entire project. Both the visual elements and the performance aspects were developed in response to Satori’s original music, creating a unified artistic narrative.
The project uses real-time visuals and even environmentally responsible open-source AI. How complex is it to execute something like this on stage?
The visual dimension of EMERGENCY EXIT is developed by Eyesberg, a multimedia art studio that creates immersive environments at the intersection of art, technology, and live experience, transforming performances into multi-sensory journeys. For this project, artists from Eyesberg have used open-source, environmentally responsible AI image generation. Thanks to models specifically trained with images of nature, they have captured the essence of our planet and brought it to life in a powerful audiovisual display. This generated content blends in real time with live footage captured by cameras carried by the performers themselves, uniting art, technology, and performance into a single audiovisual experience.
How many people are involved in the full production of Emergency EXIT across all roles?
EMERGENCY EXIT brings together more than 60 people across all roles, including 23 members of the production, creative, and technical teams, alongside over 40 performers who bring the project to life on stage.
Do you see EMERGENCY EXIT evolving further in the coming years? Will the format remain fixed, or is it designed to continuously change and adapt? Is the goal to take it even further globally? Or at least around Europe (Creative Europe)… Could this become a new permanent performance format for festivals worldwide?
EMERGENCY EXIT is conceived as a living, evolving format rather than a fixed production. While its core message and artistic vision remain the same, each edition is shaped by the artists, locations, and festival contexts it encounters. First presented at EXIT Festival in Serbia and later at Boom Festival in Portugal in 2025, the performance continued its journey at Sea Star Festival in Croatia in 2026 and will next be presented in Spain. The long-term vision is to further develop EMERGENCY EXIT as a traveling international production that can reach new festivals, venues, and audiences across Europe and beyond, while remaining open to new artistic collaborations and local influences. Its ability to adapt is one of its key strengths, ensuring that the format continues to evolve with each new context and generation of artists.
EMERGENCY EXIT is supported by the European Union through the Creative Europe programme.
Website: https://emergency-exit.org/
IG account: https://www.instagram.com/emergencyexit.eu/
EMERGENCY EXIT Live premiere at EXIT Festival – Full Performance
World Premiere – EMERGENCY EXIT with La Fura dels Baus, Satori & Eyesberg | Highlights
EMERGENCY EXIT / Quick Recap EXIT Festival and Boom Festival
