The exhibition features portraits created between the late 19th century and the early 21 century by various generations of artists. The broad time span allows the viewer to follow the transformations in the mutual perceptions of artists.

The exhibition reveals the popularity of the genre of portrait painting, the quality of artistic output, as well as the interest demonstrated in artists and critics as models. It may be viewed as part of a succession of exhibitions that started with the “Self-portrait. Visible Image and Hidden Meaning” exhibition hosted by the Sofia City Art Gallery in 2006. While the “Self-portrait” explores the artist’s view of himself/herself, the current exhibition reveals the life of an artistic community as depicted by insiders through the modifications in the meaning of the artist-to-artist and artist-to-critic relationships.

Traditionally, Bulgarian portrait painting is characterized by emphasis on form, relatively sustainable compositional patterns and formal setting. Portraits featured in the exhibition can be grouped into several categories, reflecting the trends in an artistic dialogue. Those are portraits documenting a personal relationship (an intimate relationship, relationship between spouses), portraits documenting the parent-child relationship within the context of continuity between generations, portraits presenting informal artistic circles and friendly societies, and portraits documenting an actual event in the life of the artistic community or revealing institutionalized communication. Portrait painting as a type of communication can be found in the so called “pair portraits”, where artists belonging to the same or different generations have portrayed each other.

Portrait painting is a type of communication. When there is such interaction going on between an artist and a critic things become multifaceted and complicated. The role of the critic has changed through the years. The portrayal of the images of prominent art and literary critics belonging to different periods in the history of Bulgarian art reveals yet another layer of life on the Bulgarian art scene.

The exhibition features canvases created in the period between 1898 and 2010, part of them being brought to the attention of the public and researchers for the first time. The CD-ROM available at the exhibition features 165 artworks by 98 artists.

The works featured in the exhibition belong to the Sofia City Art Gallery, the National Art Gallery, “Svetlin Rousev” Atelier Collection, National Academy of Arts, Art Gallery - Varna, Art Gallery - Vidin, Art Gallery - Dimitrovgrad, Art Gallery - Pazardzhik, Art Gallery - Pleven, Art Gallery - Plovdiv, Art Gallery - Kazanluk, Art Gallery - Kyustendil, Art Gallery - Sliven, Art Gallery - Stara Zagora, Art Gallery - Strazhitsa, Art Gallery - Turgoviste, Art Gallery - Razgrad, Art Gallery - Rouse, Art Gallery - Shoumen, “Old Plovdiv” Municipal Institute, the Union of Bulgarian Artists and private collections.

Curator: Daniela Chulova-Markova

Exhibition of the BAZA Award for contemporary art nominees: Anton Terziev, Vikenti Komitski, Orlin Nedelchev, Raycho Stanev, Svetlana Mircheva, Stefania Batoeva, HR-Stamenov

15 June 2010 - 18 July 2010

The BAZA award for contemporary art is to be presented for the third consecutive year to a young visual artist. It constitutes part of an international fellowship award program for young visual artists in the region of Central Europe and the Balkans (YVAA, Young Visual Artists Awards), launched in 1990 and managed by the International Studio and Curatorial Program (ISCP), New York. Bulgaria joined the program in 2008 on the initiative of Maria Vassileva, establishing the BAZA award, which is organized by the Institute of Contemporary Art – Sofia. The exhibition of nominated works will be hosted by the Sofia City Art Gallery. The award comprises a six-week travel fellowship to New York and a solo exhibition at the gallery of the Institute of Contemporary Art – Sofia. Eligible for the award are artists under 35 years of age, working in any medium of contemporary art. The award winner will be announced at the exhibition opening.

Now that it is 2010, it is already possible to sum up all BAZA-related events. In October-November 2009, the first BAZA award winner, Rada Boukova, had a solo exhibition entitled STILL LIFE ...all the rest is by the way... at the gallery of the Institute of Contemporary Art – Sofia, and at the beginning of 2010, the 2009 BAZA award winner, Samuil Stoyanov, successfully completed his residency in New York. Broadening of the scope of opportunities for professional fulfilment and networking is one of BAZA’s top priorities. In 2009 the Vaska Emanouilova Gallery hosted a solo exhibition of Luiza Margan, winner of the OHO award, which is the equivalent of the BAZA award in Slovenia.

The nominees for the 2010 BAZA award were selected out of a total of 35 applicants. The winner will be chosen following consideration of projects completed, particular attention being paid to the work presented at the exhibition. This year’s nominees have been working predominantly on new projects, specially completed for the event, as well as on the the further development of artworks that have already been on display – mainly objects, video and installations.

Members of the BAZA 2010 jury are as follows: Iara Boubnova, Luchezar Boyadjiev, Nadezhda Oleg Lyahova, Rene Beekman and Daniela Radeva.

The winner is Anton Terziev