In search for meaning

A time of epidemic and war has brought many hardships to light. Everywhere we turn, people are exhausted, tired, and unable to keep up the pace. Many are burnt out, without a moment to themselves. There are crises in the business and private spheres. However, such crisis periods have occurred before in history. Following the example of Viktor Frankl and his works The Will to Meaning and others, we have created an event that allows visitors to confront questions of meaning in the context of different regimes and situations of the last century. The event puts the spectator as a seeker and tester of selected approaches to making sense of the nonsense. The event is an immersive, multi-sensory narrative composed of fragments of documentary insights into possible meanings of existence.

Even if the youth is foolish, is it also capable of wisdom? Is the apple of the knowledge of good and evil the sin that darkens the skies of the old rider of life?

Oscar Wild says we are all standing in the mud, except that some of us are looking at the stars. Viktor Frankl also looked far and deep into the infinite beauties of the spirit that feed our wells of memories, hopes, visions, beauty and art.

The event mirrors a search, questioning and reflection on the surface of the sensual, with the story continually morphing into a multi-sensory experience that addresses and touches the fine line between the spiritual, the dreamlike, the imaginary and the documentary, spiced with insights into meaning. The latter is sought throughout our lives in recurring cycles, uncovering them repeatedly from the multi-layered dark matter of the past sediments. The direction of experience is not singular; it is a shared consciousness that triggers sensory perceptions and mental insights in different physical contexts.

This is not an event that challenges the visitor and raises his adrenaline level; it is not an event that wants to shock and scream. It is an event that is tailor-made for humans and from the human. It offers moments of being, both on a sensory and narrative level, where we can hear our response to what is happening. Art can also cure the woundedness of the soul; it is a refuge wrapped in veils of mysticism, beauty, and even transcendence.

Ljubljana, National Museum of contemporary history of Slovenia

VISITORS’ REFLECTIONS

Human relationships are everything we have. At the end of the day, wealth is represented by experiences and memories. In a time when there is little room for optimism, it’s a warm reminder that it makes sense to invest in relationships. The performance “In Search of Meaning” is an excellent gift to give yourself time, a pause in the fast-paced everyday life, and a reflection on – meaning. For me, it’s a reminder of gratitude.
Beautifully encapsulated existential themes in small experiences. I’m delighted that people continue to actively question the meaning, what unites us, what is eternal, the gift of people’s work.
I could observe the entire experience for hours and hours, but I won’t. Rather, with one word. Sometimes it says more. INSPIRING.
We all need honesty, security, trust, and lots of hugs. Thank you.
I, too, am a person of relationships, and I believe that warm relationships build humanity and provide hope. I enjoy storytelling because it takes you to different worlds and changes your perspective on the world, on everyday life, and on relationships between people.
Wonderful, Senzorium has never disappointed me. Every time I think I’ve seen everything, but it goes further. I leave home with many new open questions in my mind and am happy that I have once again surrendered to this unique experience. Each station is a story on its own, each storyteller their microcosm. All connect into one universe, and it’s beautiful to be a unique traveller in this beautiful village of emotions, ideas, and humanity.
Always something awakens in me again. Something that hasn’t been there for a long time or hasn’t been there at all. I would bake bread with the girl. I would hug the girl with the story of the loss of her friend. I would tell the girl from the starry sky that she will one day experience her story with children and philosophizing on a ship. I would tell the guy with violence that I feel him, that he’s not alone, and that together we are changing the world for the better. To the guy with the violin, how wonderfully he draws into his world. I love coming, I love feeling. Live Senzorium!
Thank you for the reminder that to grasp the essence of life, one must do something. Relationships need to be nurtured and maintained; too often, we just complain about how difficult it is and do too little to make it different.
As always with Pia Barbara. You don’t know what to expect. Tenderness and violence, memories, the present. In the end, bread and honest Dolenjska wine win. And cake. Alenka
I am grateful that you (reminded) us again what matters in life. Genuine relationships, warm hugs, peaceful thoughts. People with big hearts and dreamy memories of small moments in life that give life meaning.
Beautifully portrayed, spoken, and experienced.
Thank you to the brave young storytellers. I know a little more about myself. Thanks also to Luka for the surprise, precisely that – a surprise, will deepen reflection. Thanks for tonight’s community. Tina.
Too fast. Let me feel, please, wait at least until the composition ends. I am very grateful for the reminder of what is important. Sad because I lack it. Calm, knowing that this does not mean it does not exist. Thank you.
I wonder if those who tell these stories in the performance experienced them. Although the girl did not bake the bread alone and the young man did not have a broken nose, it doesn’t matter, someone wrote them and experienced them before that. It shows. They were interpreted superbly, and the content was well chosen. We all think about these questions ourselves today. Yes, I have a friend with whom I would spend the whole day in emptiness, but only in the digital world. I realize, yes, that we must live in a community, but the world is heading towards solitude. Violence creeps into words, and people, especially men, radicalize. Art, at least for me, remains the one that inspires me, and nourishes me; once it was probably faith. Thank you.
The truth, whatever that may mean, is for me in the cracks. For the mosaic of stories, thoughts, and feelings, it reminded me of what art means to me. The search for meaning, truth, and similar expressions in the cracks. Thank you!
A very nice journey. I like the different use of space, and gentle invitations to different experiences, and conversations. In between, I “met” (through experience) many people I know and remembered many things I have experienced. Everything went through me calmly, beautifully, and smoothly. I wish more people would “immerse” themselves in such experiences. Then we can calmly tell each other things, feel, and simply be.
Memories are eternity. Love and the animal dance. Life is madness, a fool is a person who doesn’t stop and lives his dance. Feel, love, share!!! Feel! Who are you? Do you feel? Love!
The performance is very good for younger visitors. Teenagers. You are cool differently!
The intertwining of personal stories, and feelings. With universal – seemingly unsolvable – eternal questions, the fact that you don’t ask yourself about it alone is comforting. We were invited close. Subtle, gentle, and unpretentious. Honest. Just as they feel and think. And that’s the most precious.
Five stories. Five starting points with a different direction of thoughts and reflections about oneself. Where am I in all this, what do I think about this, do I feel similar/the same? Stories that evoke feelings, thoughts, and hopefully movements too. Towards the stars.
The performance sheds light on many thoughts and questions that are daily in the background of fast life, but precisely because of the pace of everyday life, they usually don’t come to the forefront. Therefore, this is one of the nice opportunities to devote yourself to your thoughts in the company of collective stories in silence. During the performance, I remembered a few moments and this year, which was crucial for me. I’m glad I managed to illuminate them in such a context. Thank you.
As a boy, I wanted the attention of an educated uncle. I knew classical music was the key. I tried hard to love his favourites but in vain. Then I discovered Dvorak’s Largo. “My” war was Darfur. I felt emptiness throughout Africa and finally collapsed during a visit to a church in Rwanda, where someone smashed a child’s skull against the wall. I experienced hallucinations for the first time, the cries of children, as if caught in space forever. The emptiness remained, but it got smaller every year. You are always lonely in the company. Even with whom you are lonely, you can build a genuine relationship. Because that person is not to blame for seeking. But it can give you something unknown. When I moved to a new street, I felt that this street could be a community. How I hadn’t discovered it yet. Community, that geographic one, is the one that gives security (people entered the room, and the thought escaped), but it requires a spiritual debt that no one wants anymore, so we close our doors, safe from the discomfort of random accidents. Policemen were uttered in the room. As if it were a story about me. It’s as if it were a story about me. As if it were something special, just for me. Yet, it’s something ordinary. The stories of all of us, who are the same, when viewed from the edge of the universe and eternity. A tiny moment, so full of stories.

The stories are original and based on motifs from real events.

Banality of Evil: Peter Alojzij Marn, AGRFT

Community: Mija Kramar

Emptiness, Wars: Amika Zoja Jelić

Memories: Lana Traven

Music, Art, Beauty of the Moment: Jurij Dović

Author’s Concept, Direction, Adaptation, and Multi-sensory Environments: Barbara Pia Jenič

Adaptation of Sound: Peter Penko

Technical Assistance and Supervision: Bat* man

Maribor festival, Young theatre, april 2023

VISITORS’ REFLECTIONS

Journeying through consciousness, through memory, was therapeutic. Calming. Emotional and pleasant. We need the kindness of us all!
My feelings are primarily confused, and moving, truth be told, I never expected something like this. I connected with each person, although I didn’t know them, I immersed myself in their feelings and sensations. Each of them made me think. Each posed a question I will ponder for a long time. I like that they made us reflect on such everyday things that may be self-evident to us. I think everyone should experience this, not just once. Thank you!
Through the performance, I started reflecting on myself and my connection to the world. I realized that if people made a little effort and opened up to others, everyone would be better off. I experienced feelings of self-reflection and, at times, inner peace.
The whole thing opened my eyes and gave me everything I have always longed for, the feeling that I am not alone and the only one caring about things in the world that are being talked about. A sense of peace prevailed within me, and I didn’t want it to end. I would listen to all these stories again and again. The warmth I felt is indescribable.
Thank you for this incredible experience. Thank you for opening my eyes to the world!
A different approach, more personal, hence much more impactful. I liked that young people told their stories and connected with us on a different level. You made me think, and touched me (small steps, together we change the world)! Thank you.
The performance was excellent. I like that the actor actually engages with the audience, and the viewer is very close both physically and mentally. It’s great that the story is divided into multiple stories. Because of the comfortable seats, I also feel more at home. Congratulations to the actors, director, set designer, and all others involved in the project.
It seemed very interesting to me; at each station, we delved into a specific theme and discussed it. I liked that events from people’s lives were presented. It was also nice that we listened to music in between and participated in the discussions.
A bit emotional, I won’t lie. It sounded like my brain when I wander somewhere, it doesn’t matter where, just away. I recalled some childhood memories, both due to dark spaces and family stories. Because of the darkness, I wondered about the exit until I realized that I didn’t need an exit. Inhale, exhale. I let go. Yes, I have my person in this world. My father never told me stories about the stars. And sincere communities still exist. I still exist. Regards.
My feelings were very mixed. I also noticed that the smell in each room was different. The story of the girl who talked about her former best friend touched me the most, as I almost identified with her story… Every single story unexpectedly touched me. I am still excited. I think more people should hear these stories. Many people would reflect on them. The story of community and belonging seemed very important, especially for people from the city.
Extremely imaginative and refined performance. Congratulations! Each storyteller touched me with their story. Every space, every room, scent, and sound took me to a new atmosphere. The stories opened my eyes to forgotten dilemmas (community, assistance) or aroused nostalgia in me. Congratulations to the team once again!
The performance has sparked a desire and need for contemplation in me. Many of the topics discussed should be talked about more often. Thanks for the show that stimulates all the senses.
I enjoyed every moment and tried to speak about things that bother me and that I consider taboo, thus trying to raise awareness about the problems of today’s world.
I am positively surprised by the overall idea and execution, as I didn’t know what to expect at the beginning. I liked the concept a lot; I was also part of such a performance for the first time. I believe that such stories and themes should spread even more in the world and society.
Thank you for many tears… <3
I think a lot about the alienation between people and alienation from oneself, individuality, competitiveness, and the hatred created by capitalism. I am genuinely afraid for our future because there is no longer any sense, we follow something without authority, let ourselves be guided without a goal, and live too fast to be aware of ourselves, our emotions, and the world. All presentations attracted me, and left a strong impression; I will surely carry them with me and think about them for some time. I would like to focus more on the theme of the banality of evil, as I have not had a good reflection on it until now. I want to come back here. See you soon.
I must admit that I am not the biggest fan of art, or I often do not take enough time for it, but today’s performance impressed me without embellishment, and I would gladly watch it at least once more. I am thrilled with all the storytellers who evoked all possible emotions in me. From abundant crying to laughter and admiration. Throughout the performances, I thought about events that happened in my life and related them to the storytellers’ events. I think it’s great that I relived all the emotions even more; this diversity of spaces and scents in the rooms. However, I kept wondering whether all these stories were true. I think I won’t forget these performances for a long time and will think about all the emotions and everything heard for some time.
A lot of different motifs. Through the performance, you look back at your life, the path you have already walked. Maybe you also realize that you did something wrong in life. Or right. I also had a lot of questions, especially about the world, which arose as I walked through the event. Humanity is undoubtedly changing for the worse. We no longer know how to appreciate small moments when we are with our loved ones. Everything we have has become self-evident to us. We no longer appreciate the value of life, love; people who love us.
Very good, socially critical performance. I like that it highlights topics and problems that we all encounter, but very little or too little is said about them. Our subconscious and thinking prepare us to start asking about these things and relive or think about them ourselves. The music is also very relaxing and almost puts a person in a trance. The spaces are very intimate, and I feel very relaxed in them. They prepare me for self-reflection.
THANK YOU! Thank you for the experience. Thank you for your peace. Thank you for the words, spoken and those between the lines. Thank you for your feelings. Thank you for addressing us, whose main language of communication is words. Simply, thank you! I know and realize that everything is carefully thought out, made to perfection, crafted, tested, and guided through the entire creative process, but at the same time, everything works so familiar, real, and sincere… Thank you once again for the feeling of peace in a wild world, a sense of connection in an individual world, and a sense of importance in a world where (unfortunately) we no longer know how to appreciate and enjoy those little, most magical things and moments. THANK YOU!
The present brought us into the past, memories, and nostalgia, even further back than ourselves, through the unacceptable eyes, we ended up under the sky of eternity

Novo mesto, Miran Jarc Library, February 2023

Ljubljana, Trubar’s house of Literature, premiere 2022

VISITORS’ REFLECTIONS NOVO MESTO 9. April

Incredible, open, beautiful. Examples of memory are so available and transparent. The scenes in front of my eyes were as vivid as if they had happened yesterday. Awareness of the essence. Love. Love. Friendship. That is the meaning. To love. Memories don’t fade; they show up at the right moment. For a short time, maybe they hide somewhere. Consciousness is eternal. Feelings remain in the body. Beauty. Beauty. Beauty. To look. To see. To feel. To feel. To experience. All this is meaning.
I have not had the chance to have the carefree youth that the “girl with the stars” spoke of. I feel that frustration that the ‘girl with the war pictures’ was talking about, wanting to have ‘stupid’ crises and boy troubles. But just some warmth. As soon as I stepped/stood up, I was responsible for others, their feelings, and myself. But no one took responsibility for me. So I always wanted a community that would accept me and love me, and that would not give me accountability. Even today, every day, just responsibility, responsibility and more responsibility! I don’t have time to drink coffee and talk into the night. And I miss that. After the show, I feel everything. The pain, the jealousy, the sadness, but also the happiness of having someone who is just mine. Thank you.
I thought the youth had succumbed to modern principles, driven by capital and the desire for more and more and more. Fortunately, I was wrong. Well done to us!!!!!
What to say after this heart-opening journey to peek into the stories where we meet, be it Grandma’s bread and hay-turning or Dvoršak’s plaque, Grandpa’s memory. These windows of the heart, of feeling, of presence, of youth, open up the question: where is my time going? Is this the point?
Is there a different meaning for each generation? A longing opens up, a craving to sit in the square like my grandfather and drink coffee for hours while people walk by, while time turns; this time between before and now remains similar. The more I am present here. Thank you for this beautiful journey to the heart. To meaning. To be with the pain of longing, of questions. Easter. Suzana.
I felt that the play brought up some interesting themes for me (the importance of memories, the need for warm quality relationships, the importance of community, the influence of previous generations, and the issue of meanness). Still, I could have spent a few more minutes reflecting on or discussing each theme. I liked the layout. I liked the personal stories shared by the actors.
I liked the thoughts and narratives today and they touched me. Especially with the first group, when I thought about the story because our grandfathers share the same name. After today’s discussions, stories and thoughts shared, I will look at the world and people differently. I also realised that I have the best person and family next to me, for whom I am grateful …
Conceptually, the show is very beautifully conceived; it offers many opportunities for self-reflection, for holding up a mirror to oneself, society, and one’s attitudes to the world and to one’s family. I am happy to see young people active in the art field, especially in such an original cast, with such a set vision. Sam

Wow, I’ve never seen a show like this before. Different. Varied. Exciting. Unexpected. Congratulations to the young actors; I hope these were their stories because they were very authentic. Ambient great. Changing venues too. Excellent. Thank you.
Gentlemen! I liked it very much. Relaxed, deep, unique. I believe there is a significant lack of such events in our area. I also like reflecting on the scepticism of constant pressures and ever-higher goals. Allowing ourselves to be happy and contented, not just successful and never-achievable goals.
The classical concept of freedom: our freedom is limited by the freedom of the other. Ignorance turns to evil when we harm someone else by doing so.
Thank you for helping me resolve another philosophical – reflective period and encouraging me to think even more deeply about everything.
Thank you. I was not expecting this at all. I decided on the last day to attend this performance, and I think I would have regretted it very much if I had not gone. As one sense-seeker said, we sit down too often and just be, and now I feel the same. To be able to get lost in my thoughts and just be. I could listen to it all countless times and thank you for the feeling of safety beside you. I hope there will be more events like this because I’m coming.
Thank you for organising such a project and sharing your thoughts, fears, and reflections. Actions like this bring us together, bring us together. Thank you for being part of this.
Five stories, five stations, five meanings. .. one wonderful experience for every seeker.
A couple of beautiful vignettes of a wonderfully colourful childhood and memories
Practically breathtaking, diverse, and heart-rending. Takah food for the soul. Thanks to all the storytellers, each has brought something unique to the web of stories.
Dear, all those who prepared this evening. A deep tribute. Your stories moved me. I am of a generation that usually speaks to young people and fellow human beings with these themes. But today, when these were the voices of you, young people, the thought crept into my mind: “There is still hope … ” spread the word, inspire and be a footprint in people’s lives. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Irena.The performance is presented in a very innovative, original way. It brings the listener/viewer closer to the issues presented and makes them think.
Mija tells the stories very well. Very nice ambience.
No roots, no wings. Connectivity. A man without a story is not a man. Being – becoming – remembering – about-meeting – passing.The simplicity of breath- in-breath- out-breath. Purity. Purity of heart. Beauty. Seeing. To see. Thank you for a sensual, sincere evening. Love.

April

It seems that I will carry many of these thoughts with me and they will often guide me in my life. I liked the show’s format because it gave a private feeling, like being in a room alone with the narrator and just talking to him.
… Really wow!!! Excellent performance, excellent narration. I indeed imagine the show in a completely different way, but this was great… something special. All this storytelling and performing makes you think about who you are and if you can make a difference… but in today’s world… how? We are just ordinary people imitating each other and “staring” at screens. We don’t know how to socialise and get along anymore. I could continue, but I think your words say it all. All the performers, BRAVO!
Sometimes I don’t realise how far I am from myself. This performance has awakened emotions and questions I have not allowed myself to feel for a long time. There are no words to describe my gratitude for you.
It was an outstanding performance. It makes one think about different scenarios and events in life. In the modern world, we rush forward and don’t give ourselves time to feel, think, and let go of the situation for just a moment. The gears come to you to take a moment and think. You can easily compare the stories told and the questions raised with other events and relate them to your own life. All the narrators did an outstanding job, and I was very impressed with the visual and auditory effects.
A profound performance that goes to the heart. Amike’s monologue. The sound effects were amazing..
I felt very comfortable and relaxed, as at home. I was touched by some of your thoughts – very deep, meaningful – “I am afraid of a community where there is a belief that the individual/man can do everything on his/her own.” How you interact with the audience or the staging is special – congratulations. The ambience of the library is ideal for this kind of performance. I look forward to your next performance
Dear Barbara Pia Jenič. After many years I was back at your performance, and you are undoubtedly my favourite director. You have convinced me with “The City of Silence” and “Labyrinth”. In Search of Meaning is another moving performance that inspired me—well done. Please do it again—all my respects.
My sincere congratulations and indeed a tribute to a beautiful performance. A show about life, especially about the meaning of life. My sincere congratulations to the director for such an enlightening and meaning-oriented performance. My sincere congratulations to all the “actors” (with the intention in quotation marks, as you were all very authentic and left a message about finding meaning in life). You have confirmed my perceptions about finding purpose in life, especially in part about the importance of being connected to and supported by your fellow human beings, the very act of helping them by being present, listening, understanding and non-judgemental. Congratulations once again; good luck and many more repetitions and upgrades.
I loved the show: sincere and simple but with powerful life truths and ones that hurt and liberate. I understood it above all as a cry for help from modern man! How to awaken a numb community to see what is happening around us? The solution lies in trust, respect, and love between people.
After this performance, you wonder if the things we do are right and why we do things we want to give up but keep coming back to. Why can’t we step outside the foundations we have set for ourselves? Why?
Very positively surprised by the show! I’m sorry it’s over already because I would have kept listening. Great, and bravo for such young storytellers. Too rarely are they heard, and we listen to them.
It is a good impression. Much better than I initially expected. I found it interesting and informative because they were all speaking from experience, and it wasn’t just some rote game with no point.
I liked the concept of a more personal approach. The beautiful ambience of the library, the different young people, each with their soul, heart, person, story, thinking, destiny… congratulations!!!!
I am glad that someone speaks about such feelings. I felt like someone finally understood me. I think there needs to be more talk about these specific feelings we feel daily.
Interesting shows need to be slept through first.
I know that “the world is an f… ” as a friend from my youth used to say, but it will get better soon. People are beginning to realise the importance of personal responsibility, and we are changing ourselves and our surroundings.
Dialogue is the key to understanding our essence. Being alone with ourselves and connecting with kindred spirits makes it easier to exist in the here and now. Existence. Breathe. Embrace people. Love and enjoy every day. Thank you for your insight and reflection.
Crazy good gear. Worth a look. Everything that is said is true. Everyone should see or hear this. How real it all is. It’s a pity it’s not the way it used to be. I hope that as many people as possible see this show. And I hope for better times, times like they were. Well done.
Life is one, and it must be taken very seriously. With today’s performance, you have offered us a reflection on how we should live it and shape it so that others do not take away our freedom.

26 March

I found the idea of the show exciting. We started with the theme of the collective and its abuse and then moved on to the more personal, our own experiences, family history, and personal memories. Each of the themes brought back memories of our own experiences. And left an impression that will keep us thinking for years to come.
The show gave me time to think about the things I want to change positively…
A little different show. Excellent! I am impressed by the young people, that despite the turbulent years, they find a sense of purpose and will! Congratulations, and courageously keep going!
Wonderful stories. I like the way you young people think. I felt what a nice person you are and full of compassion. And how beautifully you tell stories. I liked your stories; each evoked beautiful and not-so-beautiful feelings and memories. Thank you for a wonderful evening.
I am sorry that you young people have bad experiences with adults. I see children as innocent beings, but when they grow up, they change because of the injustices they experience at the hands of adults. The show made me think.
Congratulations to all the actors and the director,. A really “meaningful” stimulus to think about meaning.
The first thought that comes to mind after this performance is hope and optimism. Art says much more than many articles, professional or popular. I wish more performances like this were seen and heard. I congratulate you. You have captured the essence of what we can hear and grasp. I am optimistic because you have found a way of raising awareness that goes to the heart.
Smaller groups make the experience more intimate for me. Also, just moving around the different rooms added to the interactivity and the performance experience. I feel that the performance itself, with little said, made you think about many things, already among the audience and with each individual, I would highly praise all the actors3, because it was something I didn’t expect.
Experiential. Magical. Awakening one’s memories. The magic of the place. Music. The smell. The enthusiasm of young actors. A tribute to Barbi Pia. You captivate and move again and again. Thank you. For a better world. To make it more meaningful!

A great show. Congratulations to all the young people of heart and courage for your experience and transmission, the voice of your thoughts and ancestors. Do not forget these feelings, thoughts, desires, longings, etc., even when you are older and involved in your daily commitments. Encourage each other and others around you to see the world with the same heart as you do. Congratulations to all the creators. Excellent choice of space, smells, music, and scene.
The show opened my view of the world we are in. I liked it very much. We can only wish for the world we are in to get better because it is only pointing downwards so far.
Unique, unique, remarkable, different. I liked the set of the whole show. Each room reflected an individual and a piece of their thinking that they shared. The entire library with the lights illuminating the way in the darkness. The reflections and the stories you told…I enjoyed it very much.
The performance created a beautiful, melancholy, enchanted moment when you start to think or finally reflect on your memories, the stories you have heard from your relatives and ultimately on yourself. The actors have masterfully captivated us with their storytelling, and I congratulate them for that.
Thank you for your sincerity, warmth, and optimism and for making our future better because you bring peace and hope to the cosmos.
I am fascinated by your openness, that despite the personal experiences you share with the public, you can perform in front of a home audience that knows you. It takes courage to do that. I was moved… it is nice to see and hear young people who are sensitive, think, and care about the world around us and the relationships we build. Believe in the good until your last breath!!!!
A beautiful show that makes you think. All the performers can be proud of themselves because they know how to stop the listener in such a good way, to look inwards and seek contact with themselves and the world that is rushing, rushing, rushing… and sometimes you wonder where, where, where? Thank you, it was a beautiful evening and will remain in my memory. And one more thing, I know I have a lot to tell my niece Mija…
An outstanding performance. I am glad that there are young people like you among the young people. Live with the memories of your ancestors, respect them and your passions, and I want you to pass this on to your descendants. Even if few of you think like that, go bravely forward into this world full of cruelty

25 March

I liked raising important questions on an unimportant subject that I will be thinking about a lot. I liked the relaxed and comfortable atmosphere of all the stations, which let you get lost in your thoughts.
… I think everyone should go to an event like this at least once in their life because I believe it’s essential for everyone to reflect on some issues in their own lives.
It spoke to me and made me think. I like that we were allowed to look inside ourselves because it seems to me that nowadays, people are too rarely alone with their thoughts. We could deepen our thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes through simple, everyday stories. Thank you to the participants for this opportunity and experience. You are golden.
I believe that intangible goods and relationships count the most in life and that we learn the most about life and the world by getting to know different people and their stories and experiences.
I saw the show for the second time and liked it even more; the “seekers” were even more convincing… An enjoyable mental, artistic and sensory experience!
I love a good story, and the show’s creators have delivered, with significant incorporation of our library’s spatial possibilities. I would love to come back for another performance.
Original idea, just differently convincing actors. Maybe the passages were a minute too short, as the debate could not develop. Otherwise, all praise!
Thank you for a beautiful performance. I enjoyed it; it was throbbing in my brain and soul… acting and directing at a very high level. A performance that could easily take place in any theater house…
It unobtrusively and gently intervenes in one’s reflection on one’s own and society’s past, present and future. Refreshing, intimate, and inspiring.
You must realize that there is a part of your grandfather, father and mother inside you. Please find all the good in them and use all the good in your future life. Always look for friends. It is easier to look a friend in the eye than an enemy.
A show I would watch and experience again and again. A great youth cast from Novo mesto, that makes you sit up and think about meaning in different areas

LJUBLJANA November 2022

I am not alone in my feelings in this dehumanised society. We don’t talk about it. I don’t know my neighbours, what is the community they reminded me of today. Nice, this will resonate for a long time.
It’s the first time I’ve been to a show like this, and I must admit that the feelings are incredible. Your stories make one think how much the world has changed in a short time – for the worse. Values like respect, solidarity, and love are disappearing from the world. Unless something ground-breaking happens, nothing good is happening to our civilisation.
The most relatable show I have ever watched. A link between the past, the future and the present, combined with nostalgia and concern. Lovro: Indifference, in my opinion, turns evil when the mind realises that your feelings can be harmed by your actions and you consciously withdraw them from work.
Am I living fully and completely? Have I found my purpose? What can I possibly change to make the world a better place? Is it necessary to take action as soon as a problem arises and establish a dialogue to solve it? I will spend the night thinking.
After the first scene, I knew I would be thinking about the show that night.
The performance sensitised me. These young people’s stories were so sincere and authentic that they opened our hearts and minds. The themes are human, and I was on the verge of tears at the end, as if I had gone through some internal process of opening up. This feeling is not only missing in the world, which they all, each in their way, emphasised and opened up. That feeling is also missing in theatre. Thank you for this theatrical, human experience. V.
Thank you for the gift of an evening, for contacting the depth of the soul and the heart. For a sense of connectedness with the community, I felt.
Genuine, thin-skinned, heartfelt, warm, loving. A touch of humanity and of the human that opens the heart. A flight of the soul into the vastness of freedom. Thank you for the precious and rare experience of authentic coexistence. Good luck to all.
I appreciate the elements of humanity and inclusiveness in the stories and in the scenes. It all works together very humanly because it is based on an exchange of opinions and impressions about the world and society; maybe that is why it touched me differently than most theatre shows.
I wonder every day about precisely the things you have said today. I hope that many others around me are thinking about them.
As a member of the older generation, I can say that I am happy because today I realised that there is hope for this world of ours. All the topics raised by young people today show that they are thinking a lot about this and looking for solutions.
Thank you, wonderful creators, of this show, for this wormhole in time and space that has taken me to where it seems (or perhaps I imagine) we all want to be to ourselves, where relationships are honest, where we feel safe and accepted.
The performance showed an emotional deficiency in each of us that encouraged us to search for meaning. Whether it is memories of beautiful moments, the past, the search for beauty in art or the community, in each case, this emotional deficiency touches us, precisely through sensory theatre. To get in touch with ourselves and what makes us meaningful on an unconscious level.
The performance made me think that in my life, I often miss those small moments, which at first seem trivial, but in reality, these moments build the foundation of my life and give meaning to my story. I admit that I don’t appreciate these moments enough, and too often, I don’t even realise how important they are.
I enjoyed every step of the show immensely. I was touched by the honesty and directness of the young actors, and I found it easy to empathise with each story and compare it to my memories. The “home” atmosphere was also delightful – I never had the impression of being in an “institution”…
Each of you held a mirror up and asked important questions I will think about for a long time. You were like a vast warm, intimate hug that comforted me and gave me hope that “people” still exist and that I am not alone… I was overwhelmed by various emotions, including melancholy, and I will leave here a changed person. Thank you for being part of my development, part of my life, and part of learning about myself. After your performance, I want to emphasise community, people, relationships, intimacy, honesty, and humanity. I want to set myself more essential values than I have now. I want you to know that what you are doing is very important.
It has opened up new questions for me, what I can do, what I can change, and where I can contribute more to society. Thank you for making the show so genuine and sincere. Something like this is very much needed in today’s society. It is necessary to open the doors we are sometimes afraid to go through, to be encouraged and to take a step.

Searchers for Meaning: Jurij Dović, Amika Zoja Jelič, Mija Kramar, Lovro Mirtič, Lana Traven

The scenes are based on the young people’s reflections and insights into the initial themes

Concept/direction/multi-sensory environments: Barbara Pia Jenic

Sound effects: Peter Penko

Costume consultant: Tina Kolenik

Narrative consultant: Ana Duša

Cover photography: Anastasiya Lobanovskaya

Security and technical execution: Bat*man

Inspired by:

Viktor Frankl: Yes to Life, Man’s search for ulitmate meaning and others
Naomi Klein: The Shock Doctrine (book and Documentary)
Margarethe von Trotta: Hannah Arendt (Movie)
Hannah Arendt: The Origins of Totalitarianism, Eichmann in Jerusalem

MEDIA PUBLICATIONS AND REVIEWS

“Meaning-searchers” inadvertently remind us of the sense of supposed choice we have in today’s society. The political system of democracy and the feeling of the limitlessness of the internet let us know that we have many options and choices available to us from day to day and that it is up to us to decide which way we want to tip the scales of life’s choices. But is this the case? “Are we underestimating the power of social (geopolitical) influence on the one hand and the complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors that affect the daily life of individuals? With the stories that are placed in our laps with subtlety, we might also ask: Can I help someone when they are in trouble? Can I bring someone back to life just by recalling memories? How can I revive the cathartic power of community? How can we fight against the banality of evil with concrete examples, day in and day out? How to recover meaning through the therapeutic power of art?” /…/ Scents act as a companion text with markers that appropriately underline what is seen and heard while simultaneously building on the existing material with new suggestions and meanings.” Making sense of nonsense or how to find a way out of the maze in an innovative way Miša Gams, INDEPENDENT Territory of Contemporary Performing Arts, 23 December 2022

In Search of Meaning is an engaging, holistic and enjoyable experience that comforts and encourages the visitor that behind us are growing up thinking individuals who care not only for themselves but also for those around them.” In Worlds of Search, critique by Kaja Novosel, Kritika Portal Sigledal, 2 December 2022

“Our desires are more important than the urgent needs of others. This neoliberalism, this self-promotion and self-fulfilment, this self-obsession… it has gone beyond all limits. Instead of a fireplace there is a TV, instead of a family there is a job, instead of friends there are therapists or the internet. Instead of playgrounds and trees, there are shopping centres and luxury flats, empty. I think art is the last place of freedom, where you can open up your views and questions, where you can touch those hidden and invisible layers of anxiety that lie on top of us and seep into the pores of our minds. /…/ Without art and culture, society is, in my opinion, as meaningless as the individual without love.” Me, Me, Me, have gone beyond all limits, Barbara Pia Jenič, asking Urša Krišelj Grubar Jana Magazine, 29 November 2022

Mija Kramar: The moment when you have to let go, Pia Prezelj, Delo, Young Pen, 29 November 2022

Senzorium offers a search for meaning, event announcement Dnevnik 21 November

In Search of Meaning, Cultural Bazaar, announcement

In Search of Meaning, Sigledal portal, event announcements

VISITORS’ REFLECTIONS

ABOUT SENSORIAL LANGUAGE and SENSORY PERCEPTION IN THEATRE

“Sensory forms of theatre open up to the unfamiliar viewer frontiers of perception, but at the same time compelling and highly inspiring. Suppose the contemporary theatre theorist Susan Broadhurst describes this type of art as a fertile chaos and a fertile nothing, a storehouse of possibilities. In that case, we understand this as a theatrical experience which, through the phenomenon of the sense of smell, produces new, liminal entities that are neither here nor there, caught between positions, emphasizing the corporeal and the chthonic, experimenting. /… / If Barbara Pie Jenič’s sensorial theatre emerged as a continuation of the method of the magician of this theatre, the Colombian director Enrique Vargas and his Teatro de los Sentidos, a joint theatre based in Barcelona, it has evolved into a theatre over the last two decades, a theatre that offers audiences incredible, unframed, authentic perception and pleasures, that, in a special, inimitable experience for both the audience and the performers, causes a change in their perception and perception of reality, of themselves and others. It counts on triggering a change in the spectator’s perception of reality through the aesthetics of the senses. But this aestheticized language also speaks of the here and now, our present looking back at the past.” Tomaž Toporišič on sensorial language for the performance Scented Secrets 2021