export: bulgaria 5
contemporary geometric abstraction from bulgaria
export: bulgaria: exhibition shot with works by georgi dimitrov (*1984) in front and georgi yanakiev (*1933-†1998) in the back
export: bulgaria 5
opening: 31 may 2024, est art foundation, leiden
exhibtion: may 31 - june 30 2024
visiting hours: friday - sunday: 1 pm - 5 pm
participating artists:
boyan chakarov, georgi dimitrov, georgi georgiev, georgi yanakiev, ivan shumanov, kamen kalev, maria chakarova, petar dochev and viktor vlaesku
the exhibition, presenting a selection of works by nine bulgarian artists, born between 1933 and 1980, gives the audience an opportunity to explore a completely new terra incognita. when it comes to geometric art, bulgaria is one of the few european countries without an established tradition in this aesthetic field. since 2010, however, nonsofia has been creating social awareness of it by organising symposia, exhibitions, open lectures, film screenings and workshops for children. through these various activities, the association has gradually succeeded in consolidating a local art community and bringing bulgaria onto the world map of geometric abstraction.
in 2018, a historic breakthrough took place. the first edition of export: bulgaria was held at ikkp – kunsthaus rehau upon the invitation of eugen gomringer, the father of concrete poetry. that same year, dóra maurer initiated talks to showcase the bulgarian geometric selection at vasarely museum, budapest – an initiative that eventually materialised in 2023.
furthermore, saturation point, london and est art foundation, leiden will host two parallel editions of the bulgarian geometric export in 2024. the dutch-bulgarian collaboration, which will also produce an all-dutch exhibition in sofia later this year, becomes possible thanks to the mere friendship between est art foundation and nonsofia, dating back to orthogonal12: international forum for constructive art (2012).
the exhibition is financially supported by the national culture fund of bulgaria and includes works made over the past thirty years by the following artists: boyan chakarov, georgi dimitrov, georgi georgiev, georgi yanakiev, ivan shumanov, kamen kalev, maria chakarova, petar dochev and viktor vlaesku.
image shows georgi dimtrov, georgi yanakiev, maria chakarova,georgi dimtrov (2 small black works) and viktor vlaesku
left: petar dochev (1934 - 2005), untitled, 2005, mixed media, graphite, plywood, 100 x 100 cm
right:georgi georgiev (1979), untitled (visual defects 01 – 05), 2020, wood, acrylic, danish oil on gessobord, 34 x 34 cm each
The exhibition received 260 visitors
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