Neo Nor's videogame invites players to wander the picturesque, daffodil-strewn hillside of Golica, a beloved peak, which inspired world-known Slovenian polka melody Na Golici, a tune fully integrated in Slovenian national identity. But this virtual world is not a homage to alpine nostalgia. Instead it’s a playful and subversive reclamation of the rituals, traditions and spaces that straight, nationalist culture has long claimed as its own.

The game questions who gets to participate in these communal revelries, dance at local feasts in the countryside, enjoy folk music or share a drink at a bonfire. By queering these events, appropriating pop culture references, and adding witty signs and specific ambient music Neo Nor transform them into inclusive celebrations of open-minded communities, in which everyone feels welcome and safe. Players can join in the fun, discover subtle details and meet interesting characters and friends such as the elated accordion player, drag queen Lola Slak, fruity cowboy, fanboy shepherd, and the pastoral yaoi duo.

Neo Nor's artistic practice involves world-building and the creation of different narratives that explore dream states and the blurred boundaries between the imaginary world and reality. In this spirit and his distinctive aesthetic, he reimagines alpine, national traditions and creates new speculative rituals that celebrate collective gathering, highlight the importance of community and equality, as well as having unapologetic fun.

Neo Nor (1999) completed his undergraduate studies in video and new media at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana, where he is also pursuing a Master’s degree in the same field. He works mainly in digital techniques such as video, animation, digital graphics and video games.

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​​Videoigra umetnika Nea Nora vabi igralce, da se sprehodijo po slikovitem, z narcisami posejanem pobočju priljubljenega vrha Golice, ki je navdihnil svetovno znano melodijo slovenske polke Na Golici in danes predstavlja del slovenske narodne identitete. A ta virtualni svet ni poklon alpski nostalgiji, temveč je igrivo in subverzivno prevzemanje ritualov, tradicij in prostorov, ki jih heteroseksualna in nacionalistična kultura že dolgo razglašata za svoje.

Igra postavlja vprašanje, kdo lahko sodeluje pri tovrstnih skupnih zabavah, pleše na gasilskih veselicah, uživa v narodnozabavni glasbi ali popiva ob kresu. S kviranjem teh dogodkov, apropriacijo referenc iz pop kulture ter dodajanjem duhovitih napisov in specifične ambientalne glasbe, jih Neo Nor spreminja v vključujoča praznovanja odprto mislečih skupnosti, znotraj katerih se vsi počutijo dobrodošle in varne. Igralci se tako lahko pridružijo zabavi, odkrivajo subtilne detajle in spoznavajo zanimive karakterje in prijatelje, kot so vzneseni harmonikaš, dregica Lola Slak, kvir kavboj, fanboy pastir in pastoralni yaoi duo.

Neo Nor v svoji umetniški praksi gradi svetove in ustvarja različne narative, s katerimi raziskuje sanjska stanja ter zabrisane meje med domišljijskim svetom in resničnostjo. V svoji prepoznavni estetiki na novo pojmuje alpske, nacionalne tradicije in ustvarja svojevrstne spekulativne rituale, ki slavijo kolektivno druženje ter izpostavljajo pomen skupnosti in enakopravnosti, kot tudi brezbrižne zabave.
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Neo Nor (1999) je zaključil dodiplomski študij videa in novih medijev na Akademiji za likovno umetnost in oblikovanje v Ljubljani, kjer nadaljuje tudi magistrski študij na isti smeri. Ustvarja predvsem v digitalnih tehnikah, kot so video, animacija, digitalna grafika in video igre.