Synopsis

In the millions of years since oxygen began saturating Earth’s oceans and atmosphere, most organisms have evolved to rely on this gas. However, there are some places where oxygen-averse microorganisms like those from Earth’s earliest days have re-emerged. And one such place is hidden high in the Swiss Alps’ Piora Valley.

Ivana Volda

Ivana (Bošnjak) Volda (1983, Karlovac, Croatia) graduated from the Department of Graphic Arts  of the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, and from the Animation department at the University in Volda, Norway. Ivana met her creative partner Thomas in Volda, Norway in 2010 after which they moved  to Zagreb together and have since been leading artists of stop-motion animation in Croatia. In addition to making their own animated short films, Ivana has been professionally involved in various stop-motion projects across Europe, and has led animation workshops for children and students.
In 2023 Ivana and Thomas founded the artist organisation underfeather together with their friend Iva Kraljević.

Thomas Volda

Thomas Johnson Volda (Bath, England, 1984) graduated in Time Based Media from the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, and at the New Media Department of the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb. Thomas has co-directed three stop-animation short films with his partner Ivana Bošnjak Volda: Simulacra (2010) and Imbued Life (2019), Remember How I Used to Ride a White Horse (2022). The films have been screened at many festivals, and have received several acclaimed awards. He is a multidisciplinary artist, often combining animation and performance art in his work. Thomas has created puppet performances at numerous international festivals and galleries across Europe.