Shape formation is the basic matter in Kamen Tanev’s creative work. The process of its differentiation in space follows its own inner logic. The latest trend in the sculptor’s artistic groping comes one step closer to the liberation of the shape from its creator’s will. As a perfect container, the sphere reincarnates the idea best. The spherical elements initially popped out in the author’s consciousness when he looked at tennis balls closed in vacuum. They evoke the impression of something organic, of a unique life form. Kamen has begun to explore these shapes in different types of space and in varying scales. In the present exhibition, the author is aiming at the maximum closeness with nature serving as the most suitable context for perception of its organic creatures. The metamorphoses they go through have been ‘shot’ by Assia Kovanova. The video allows the tracing of the shape-creation process forming a significant and inseparable part of the life of completed shapes in the exposition. The stages of their self-identification suggest that this phase may not be the last one.

Yana Kostova
curator of the exhibition

LIUBEN DIMANOV painting, prints, drawings

02 November 2005 - 23 November 2005

Liuben Dimanov was born in 1933 in the town Knezha. In 1959 he graduated in ‘Decorative Monumental Arts’ from the National Academy of Arts in Sofia, under Professor Bogdanov. The painter has become permanently interested in graphic art, illustration and drawing. In the same time he has been working in the field of painting and mural-monumental art. He has been an active participant in international life since the time of his graduation – he took part in the Youth Biennale in Paris in 1961, 1963, 1965, and in the graphic art biennales in Ljubljana, London, Rome, Australia, Moscow, Sao Paulo.

He organized his first one-man show in 1972 in Knezha. It was followed by exhibitions in Sofia, Stockholm, London, Paris, Düsseldorf, Zurich, Lyons, Oslo, Luxemburg, Copenhagen, Vienna and many more. Liuben Dimanov is the author of numerous illustrations and graphic folios for editions by Bulgarian and world authors. Some of the books he has worked on are: Mark Aurelius ‘Pensee pour moi-meme’ – 1978, Paris; Baudelaire ‘Flowers of Evil’ -1979, Dusseldorf; Selma Lagerloeuf ‘The saga of Joster Berliner’-1980 Galleriet Oster, Sweden, Ovidius ‘Metamorphoses’ -1981, Paris, Apoliner ‘Alcohols’ -1981, Shakespeare ‘Sonnets’ – 1983, Stockholm, ‘Le Bestiaire’ –1984, Paris, ‘When the flame and the rose are one’– 1986, London, Mallarmee ‘Mytologie’ -1991, Paris and more.

He has received numerous awards in the filed of graphic art and drawing, as well as awards for his book illustrations both in Bulgaria and abroad. In 1974 he won Second Prize for illustration at the International Book Exhibition in Moscow. In 1986 he received the Painting Prize of the International Contemporary Art Center in Paris.
The painter, who went to live in Paris in 1976, is a guest of the Sofia Art Gallery with a large retrospective exhibition. This is his fifth representative exposition in the capital – after the exhibitions at the National Academy of Arts in 1980 and 1983, in the gallery in 125 Rakovski Street in 1989, and in the National Gallery for Foreign At in 1995.

The present exhibition includes paintings, drawing, collages and graphics in which the techniques of etching, lithography and monotype can be observed. The works exhibited trace different stages in the creative life of Liuben Dimanov. Works from the painter’s early period are featured in the exposition –the time when he worked in Bulgaria (60s to mid 70s of the 20th century) and works created after 1976. They are united by the power of the monumental, synthetically simplified drawing and the dynamics of the color spot. The basic means of expression used is the line. We can observe it in its various types- from the plastic creation of the shape, through the skillful outlining of the drapery to the symbolic associations provoked by the detail.

PROF. HEINRICH DUMSER (1926-2005) painting

21 October 2005 - 13 November 2005

Heinrich Dumser was born on 28 November 1926, in Vienna. In the period 1941-1943 he studied at the Professor’s Hans Kautzki studio; scenography and stage techniques under Professor Nidermozer; figural and portrait drawing under Professor Kepel. He began work as a theatre painter and assistant at the Vienna Volksoper in 1945. He became a Director of the painting studios in the same opera in 1965. In 1967 he took part in an exhibition at Künstlerhaus, Vienna; and in 1968 he took part in an exhibition of the Wien Secession. In 1972 he became an Assistant Director of the drawing schools of all state theaters and taught students of theatric painting. He was awarded the Golden Symbol of Honor of the republic of Austria in 1974. In 1986 he had a solo exhibition within the Vienna festival Weeks. 1990 – Professor of Painting. Died on 3 March 2005.

Professor Heinrich Dumser worked in the field of painting and scenography. He was one of the most prominent theatric painters in Austria, designer of numerous theatric performances and teacher of generations of scenography students. He received his in-depth scenography knowledge from practice, guided by renowned names of the Austrian theatric circles. His painting is highly influenced by his theatric sense of colors and dramatic effect. He achieved expressive, intense states having emotional impact on the senses.

The Sofia Art Gallery presents 69 paintings created within 1983- 2004.

STYLES UND STILE Contemporary German Painting from the Scharpff Collection

04 October 2005 - 30 October 2005

Goethe Institut-Sofia and Sofia Art Gallery have the pleasure of presenting contemporary German art exhibition. 30 paintings by 12 artists exemplify the most recent trends in the development of German painting.

Traditional painting has been out of the public interest, as conceptual strategies and experimenting with new expressive means became dominant. Since the 90’s, however, representatives belonging to the generation of the youngest German artists working on the territory of United Germany have been actively redirecting themselves to painting. Different, mostly figurative artistic languages have started to appear.

Their painting has a new global aesthetics, defined by photography and film-making, by computer graphics and industrial design. In the paintings exhibited, traditional figurative languages are linked to the 20th century typical expressionist and socialist realism styles. Thus, a new kind of universal situating of fashion as styles, unique for each artist, is created. The power of the works is born from the contradiction between video games and neo surrealism, nostalgia and revision of the old, expressiveness and cool objectiveness.

During the past years, paintings by Neo Rauch, Franz Ackermann and more artists have conquered not only the international expressive art markets but also museums and exhibition halls from Western Europe, the USA and Japan. The Ute and Rudolf Scharpff family of collectors have been far-sighted about this new painting well before its boom. The present exhibition features selected works from their collection.

The exhibition features works by: Franz Ackermann, André Butzer, Eberhard Havekost, Andreas Hofer, Martin Kobe, Jonathan Meese, Albert Oehlen, Neo Rauch, Daniel Richter, David Schnell, Markus Selg, Matthias Weischer.

Curator: Nina Zimmer

The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue in German and Bulgarian language.

Svetlana Todorova - Svet 33 plus/minus 3 portraits of friends of mine

20 September 2005 - 16 October 2005

Svetlana Todorova was born in 1970. In 1996 she graduated from the National Art Academy, Sofia, with major Graphic Art, and then her interests led her to painting, sculpture, drawing and photography. She has had numerous personal shows and participations in joint projects in Bulgaria and abroad. She has won awards from the ‘Photovacation’ contest and the contest UBA for her stay at the Cite des Art studios in Paris. At the end of 2004, the Sofia Art Gallery presented her with the ‘Passions’ photographic exhibition, within the ‘Dating place’ sequence.

For her new project named “33 plus/minus 3 portraits of friends of mine”, Svetlana Todorova found her inspiration two years ago in Paris, while working at the Cite des Art studios in Paris. Meeting her coevals from all over the world, the exceptional tolerance of relationships with people coming from different cultures, religion and ethic origin, living in a place with inherited artistic layers and dramatic history, the symbiosis of past, present and future, the life pulsating with rose scent, the feeling of love and peace – this is what fascinates the artist. Thus, her desire to create the “33 plus/minus 3 portraits of friends of mine” canvasses is born, and in them she talks about the moods, relationships, and events connected with her friends at the age of 33 plus/minus 3 years. They all have different ethic origin, most are into art, possess an exceptional intellect, talent and kindness. They have their own individuality and uniqueness. They are the face of the world – the young and mature person - creating, searching and loving.

THE WINDOW paintings and graphics from the collection of Sofia Art Gallery

16 June 2005 - 18 September 2005

The Sofia Art Gallery has a comprehensive collection of paintings, sculptures and graphic art works collected for more than 70 years. It comprises about 7000 works by Bulgarian classics, modernists, and contemporary artists stored in its storage areas. The objective of each museum institution is to give the opportunity to spectators to get familiar with its rich funds. During the past years, the SAG has been organizing a number of thematic exhibitions, showing the diversity of its collection. More than 100 paintings and graphic art works are included in the exhibition, created at the beginning of the 20-th century until present.

The window theme has always provoked interest in artists and has been present in art for ages.The present exhibition offers the opportunity of tracing its development in Bulgarian art in the past one hundred years. The works are divided into several cycles: the window and the still-life, the window and the interior, the window and the studio, the window and the portrait, the window and the city, the window and the expectations.

The exhibition features works by classics in Bulgarian art: Nikola Mihaylov, Elisaveta Consulova-Vazova, Elena Karamihaylova, Bencho Obreshkov, David Peretz, Eliyezer Alsheh, Boris Eliseev, Ivan Nenov, Kiril Tzonev, Ekaterina Savova- Nenova, Boris Ivanov, Vera Lukova, Vera Nedkova and also works by contemporary artists: Svetlin Roussev, Yordan Katzamunski, Yordan Kissyov, Nikolay Aleksiev, Toma Vurbanov, Kalya Zographova, Mimi Vesselinova, Stephan Rodev, Tecla Aleksieva, Roumen Gasharov, Stephan Yanev, Marianna Marinova, Vihronii Popnedelev, Andrey Daniel and more.

The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue in Bulgarian and English language with 78 colour reproductions.

Curator of the exhibition is Maria Vassileva.

Elegance in Motion: Ballet and the Visual Arts

19 May 2005 - 12 June 2005

The U.S. Embassy will display an exhibit of sculptures, paintings, photographs and graphic works as part of Ambassador and Mrs. Pardew’s Honorary Patronage this year of the National Ballet of Sofia. The exhibit entitled “Elegance in Motion” is made up of works by ten Bulgarian artist who have spent the past year observing the rehearsals and performances of the National Ballet. The artists displaying works are: Edmond Demirdjian, Safer Galibov, Lyuben Genov, Ivo Hadjimishev, Dessislava Mincheva, Emil Mirchev, Ivan Moskov, Emil Popov, Yavora Petrova and Snejana Simeonova.

Action: Contemporary Art Boryana Rossa works in public collections

17 May 2005 - 05 June 2005

The purpose of the “Action: Modern Art” is to supply the newly established collection “Modern Art and Photography” and to promote the latest trends in Bulgarian art. The Sofia Art Gallery staff are convinced that the mission of their institution is to appraise, select and store the best examples from the past and the present day of art. In our circumstances this function is even more important given the lack of a Museum of Contemporary Art. Several generations of artists have been employing the new means of expression for some twenty years now, however, their works have not been and are not included in museum collections. This disturbing fact inspired our vigorous effort to conserve this art. Unfortunately, because of shortage of money we have to rely on donations from artists. The exceptionally valuable donation “Vanitas” of Nadezhda Oleg Lyahova was displayed within the framework of this project in October 2005.

The Sofia Art Gallery is now happy to report about its new gift acquisition from the artist Boryana Rossa. The donation includes 18 digital photographs and four videos. The exhibition “Boryana Rossa in Public Collections” will display part of the donation.

The series “The, Good, the Bad, the Ugly”, 2001 (5 digital color photographs) is Boryana Rossa’s comment on the status of the woman in the post socialist society where she lives outside the extremity of radical feminism; in her vision “the blood of the revolution gushes into the red color of the lipstick”. “Cloning” (1997) is an emblematic work, which illustrates the risks of cloning in a perfect way. “I’ve Lost…” (2002) is a series of four photographs that are a remake of the little known erotic photography of the 1950s. The reinterpretation and modernization of the profane image, which the artist’s effort has transformed into an apotheosis of female slavery – into a violent feminist proclamation, provokes, if not laughter, at least a bitter smile. In “Are You Happy? Yes, I’m Happy!” (two photographs) Boryana Dragoeva-Rossa exults over being a woman.

Boryana Rossa is one of the most interesting and radically minded young artists from the past decade. Her vocation fields are the video, photography and performance. Her works are displayed at dozens of exhibitions in and outside Bulgaria; she participates in international seminars and workshops as one of the distinguished new figures in modern Bulgarian art.

Photo exhibition "Strandja"

12 May 2005 - 05 June 2005

The exhibition displays 15 Bulgarian photographers who have participated in the Strandja 2004 Photo Expedition. It is part of a series of projects that the 41T Ltd. produced in the past few years within the framework of an extensive exploration of the Strandja region. The exploration covers the Strandja Mountains natural sites, the local architecture, the local people and their customs, beliefs and traditions. A CD is to be released with records of folk music from Strandja.

The photo expedition was organized in August-September 2004 with help from the Swiss Cultural Program in Bulgaria and support from Hewlett Packard. The members of the expedition were: Ana-Mati, Asya Ivanova, Vesselina Nikolaeva, Georgi Doumanov, Evgeni Koevski, Emil Bouzatov, Ivo Hadjimishev, Irina Papazova, Kalina Goranova, Mario Krastev, Nadezhda Pavlova, Rossen Manchev, Svetoslav Karadjov, Simeon Svilenov and Yassen Zahariev. They were free to visit and shoot unique but otherwise restricted areas of the Strandja Mountains. The outcome was a plentiful and diverse production of photos, which were displayed at the Strandja Photo Exhibition and included in the Strandja Photo Album, which was sponsored by Lukoil Bulgaria. The exhibition was intended to attract the public attention to the region, which is on the bottom of the population density table, to the culture, traditions, people and scenic nature so that the Strandja Mountains could become a really listed area.

Courtesy should be extended to the Sofia Art Gallery, the Swiss Cultural Program in Bulgaria, Lukoil Bulgaria, Damyanitsa Winery and 41T Ltd. for making this photo exhibition possible.

DIMITAR KIROV a jubilee year ...1953-2003...

10 May 2005 - 05 June 2005

Dimiter Kirov- Dikiro will celebrate his seventieth anniversary on 20 May 2005. On this occasion, the painter is exhibiting selected paintings, created during the period 1953- 2003, in the Sofia City Art Gallery. The majority of them belong to the author.
The painter was born in Istanbul. In 1959, he graduated in Monumental Painting from The Sofia City Academy of Arts with Professor Georgui Bogdanov. He works and lives in Plovdiv. He is an honorary member of the ‘Nika Kai’ Group of Japanese Painters.
His first steps in painting have coincided with the period of the bright and ardently disputed new gropings of Bulgarian expressive art. Together with his young colleagues, friends and fellow-citizens Hristo Stefanov, Georgui Bojilov, Yoan Leviev and Encho Pironkov, he founded an artistic society which we still call ‘The 60’s School of Plovdiv’.
Figurativeness and abstract complement each other in the style of Dimiter Kirov. He decomposes the actual shape in order to build new shapes in his own way. In the years, his creative work has become thematically connected with several cycles offering rich expressive and plastic opportunities- music and ballet, different layers (historic and cultural), burnt icons.
He has tens of decorative-monumental works of art in his biography and also over 40 exhibitions in Bulgaria and abroad. His works of art are owned by the National Gallery of Art, the Sofia City Art Gallery, galleries in the country, museums and private collections in Bulgaria, Armenia, Belgium, Venezuela, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Denmark, Spain, Canada, Cyprus, Mexico, Russia, Turkey, France, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, Japan.
He has won prestigious state and painters’ awards among which: The Sofia City Award - 1967; The Great Prize of the Town of Plovdiv- 1967; the Award named after Vladimir Dimitrov Maistora for the ‘Requiem for the Samuil Warriors’ - 1981; The ‘Zahari Zograf’ Great National Prize– 1983; The ‘Zlatyui Boyadjiev’ Great National Prize – 1986, etc.
Without prudery, the painter says: „Those who think I am a millionaire are right. I really am a millionaire as I have the largest collection of paintings by Dimiter Kirov.”

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