Irwin
was founded in Ljubljana, acting within the NSK movement since 1984. The
group consisting of painters Dušan Mandic (born Ljubljana, 1954), Miran
Mohar (born Novo Mesto, 1958), Andrej Savski (born Ljubljana, 1961), Roman
Uranjek (born Trbovlje, 1961) and Borut Vogelnik (born Kranj, 1959). Its
work is based on potent eclecticism and the "retro principle,"
both as means of realizing the syncretic coexistence of various artistic
styles ranging from the tradition of the historical avantgardes, to popular
national imagery, to the visual production of the totalitarian regimes.
Together with NSK, Irwin established the NSK State in Time in 1992. Their
most important activities have included the planing of the NSK Embassies
and Consulates in Moscow, Gent and Florence, and the Transnacionala project
(Journey from East to West Coast) in 1996. Irwin have exhibited widely
in Europe and the USA, including Manifesta in Rotterdam and Ljubljana,
Venice Biennial, After the Wall, and Aspects/Positions.