Whispers of Izola with Žana Šuran

"For me, creativity is like a battery: it needs to rest, it needs to be recharged so that it can work for a certain period of time".

In the new episode of Whispers of Izola, we host Žana Šuran – an illustrator and designer who creates between the real and the imaginary, often with a subtle intertwining of the human and animal worlds.

Žana is native to Izola, has also gained experience abroad - in Portugal and Germany. Upon her return, she began to create more actively in the local environment. It was Žana who created the beautiful motifs that adorn Izola's merchandise - T-shirts and bags.

In our conversation, she shared her artistic journey, spoke candidly about challenges such as impostor syndrome, how living abroad has shaped her creative outlook, and her deep desire for a space in Istria where artists and creatives from different fields can meet.

You'll discover why she fell in love with the lion on the Podestà Palace as a child, why she would have become a psychotherapist if she hadn't pursued an artistic career, and how much she enjoys her current job, where she feels like part of a (second) family.

Episode special? We surprised Žana at the end with a "Vinyl vs. Plant" quiz - a fun game where she had to guess whether a name refers to a record or a plant. How did she do? Tune in to find out!

Episode recorded at the Medanni Apartments in Korte

This time we recorded at the beautiful Medanni Apartments in Korte, a green oasis in the hinterland of Izola. The hosts, originally from Ljubljana, have always been drawn to the sea. The house they bought years ago has been completely renovated and turned into a boutique accommodation with a pool and two apartments - one in the main house and the other in a separate building. Guests can enjoy a homely atmosphere with local wine, olive oil and fresh eggs - all in an idyllic natural setting just minutes from the sea.

What is in store for you in the third instalment of Whispers of Izola?

• What was Žana's experience of growing up in Izola?
• What was the difference between high school and university?
• Where do her creative ideas come from?
• What did living abroad teach her about creativity and life?
• What was it like working for Visit Izola and what are her future creative plans?
• Why is she also interested in psychotherapy?
• Where does she see opportunities for artists and cultural workers in her home town?
• And finally - how did she do in the fun quiz between records and plants?

You can follow Žana and her creations on her website: https://zanasuran.com and her IG profile: https://www.instagram.com/zanasuran.art/

Listen to the Whispers of Izola podcast on all major platforms or directly on visitizola.com!