Kaluma stands outside the Maribor Adult Education Centre at 5 Maistrova Street. The seventh unique art bench in the Stories of Benches and People project was created by artist Tomaž Plavec and unveiled on 16 June 2016. Made of oak wood and recycled aluminium, the bench combines practical seating with sculpture and reflects the educational purpose of its location.
Its legs are formed from compressed scrap aluminium. Stylised heads rise from this rough base through the wooden seat, representing new ideas, thoughts and knowledge. The contrast between materials expresses learning, personal growth and changing perspectives. Its name, Kaluma, also brings together Slovenian words associated with shaping, the mind and art, along with aluminium.
The artist intended the work to express inclusion and respect for differences, as well as the removal of barriers between people. Placed beside an adult learning centre, it connects these ideas with a setting where generations and experiences meet. The bench is part of Maribor's wider public art trail.
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2000 Maribor