THE NEW VALUABLE is the Forever Black
In our commodity-saturated present, the meaning of the functional and decorative object is constantly shifting—often mutating into kitsch and wastefulness. Yet originality, durability, and masterful craftsmanship have always outlived trends and remain essential benchmarks of quality for true connoisseurs—a hopeful sign in the uphill battle against mass-produced, soon-to-be-trash goods made somewhere east from here.
Jeweler Nikolay Sardamov, photography: Mihail Novakov
THE NEW VALUABLE is the Forever Black
In our commodity-saturated present, the meaning of the functional and decorative object is constantly shifting—often mutating into kitsch and wastefulness. Yet originality, durability, and masterful craftsmanship have always outlived trends and remain essential benchmarks of quality for true connoisseurs—a hopeful sign in the uphill battle against mass-produced, soon-to-be-trash goods made somewhere east from here.
Handcrafted Creativity in a New Light
Fortunately, Bulgaria is rich in makers of excellent, time-resistant quality. Rosina Pencheva, curator of The New Valuable and ambassador of the international Homo Faber craft movement, showcases the contemporary face of Bulgarian craftsmanship through a curated selection of handmade pieces of high artistic merit. The Etar Museum is the initiator and host of this first-of-its-kind representative exhibition of a new generation of master artisans. It emphasizes environmentally responsible making, modern interpretations of traditional techniques, thoughtful design, and the diverse applications of handmade craft.
The era of rapid consumption and waste challenges craftsmanship—but it also opens up paths to new possibilities. When time-honored skills meet a contemporary gaze, something truly valuable is born.
Through the work of 41 Bulgarian artists and artisans, the exhibition illustrates how a sustainable future can be built upon traditional knowledge, reimagined as a platform for modern creative expression. In this process, craftsmanship is no longer a static form of intangible heritage but a living, evolving culture shaping the identity of Bulgaria’s emerging craft scene.
Tsvetana Nedeva – Kinderlist, photographed by Silvio Silvionov
A Meeting with the Artisan
The New Valuable highlights not only the objects themselves but also the personal stories of the makers—their individual paths toward a craft-based practice. Some of them combine traditional techniques with contemporary design, while others innovate in technique while creating objects with traditional applications. The exhibition is accompanied by live demonstrations, offering the public the opportunity to meet the makers in person—and perhaps even “steal” a skill or two, in the spirit of reviving an old Bulgarian tradition.
Curated with an eclectic approach, this exhibition is an invitation to view handmade works not merely as objects, but as expressions of spirit, hand, and mind—as a vital link connecting us to the past and guiding us into the future.
