Diversity and Modernity
The artists featured in the exhibition represent a broad spectrum of creative approaches and crafts. Some are traditional artisans who, with dedication and skill, continue age-old techniques. Others are designers who enrich these traditions with innovative ideas and modern functionality. And still others perceive manual work as a new medium for artistic expression, expanding the possibilities of crafts.
Despite their differences, they are all united by one thing – they work with their own hands and put not just thought and skill into their works, but character and authenticity.
Boriana Hadzhimincheva is a self-taught artist. Since childhood, she has studied various applied techniques – drawing, knitting, sewing, jewelry making, and modeling, but when she discovered embroidery as a means of expression, everything fell into place and BOD was born. Boryana takes on the role of a creative researcher, seeking revelation, harmony and beauty in order to give life to her delicate, unexpected and seemingly skyward-reaching works.
Georgi Troyanov graduated in woodcarving and wooden sculpture at the National Academy of Arts, and soon after became a lecturer there. However, life snatched him away and took him far east – to Israel, where his career flourished and reached an international clientele. Returning to his native land, the sculptor is once again part of the Bulgarian scene. His style is distinguished by remarkable precision of carving, imagination in detail and bright, categorical colors.
For sculptor Dimitar Nikolaev, whose career is nearly half a century old, children's play is still at the heart of everything – it is the eternal source of vitality for the artist. The earliest inspiration of the internationally recognized ceramist is the architecture of old Bulgarian houses. A jazz fan, Dimitar trusts the intuitive moment of improvisation in dialogue with the material he knows in depth from his long experience as a craftsman and teacher.
Captivated by the sketches of his mother's fashion designs, little Dimitar Stankov imperceptibly turned to art. Having graduated in Sofia and Antwerp, the young jeweler lives and works in Brussels, where he creates his wonderful objects, reminiscent of sacred relics from another world. Bulgarian folklore, which is one of the author's inspirations, brings a mythological spirit to the complex, precisely executed three-dimensional compositions.
Sustainability of process and material is a priority for Evgeniya Tsankova, so if you look closely, you will recognize some unconventional materials from everyday life in her cleverly composed creations. In addition to jewelry, Evgeniya is also involved in coin minting and medal molding. This means that if you collect coins, it is very likely that you have a piece of hers in your binder – she has won a number of national competitions for commemorative coins of the Bulgarian National Bank.
Multifaceted is a definition that seems to have been created especially for Emilian Bonev. Since childhood, he has been fond of working with his hands and has gone through various crafts such as wood carving, laying outdoor flooring, sewing clothes (he is a co-founder of the skate clothing brand Exit) and his current profession – an artist in the film industry. The most amazing thing is that in his free time he again chooses creativity, for the purposes of which he harnesses his rich material knowledge and technological skills.
Jacklina Jekova is a calligrapher and type designer. The ancient art of the handwritten letter comes to life in her fabulous handwriting, the fruit of a skillful hand combined with control, courage and intuition for the elegant. Jacklina, who regularly shares her skills in calligraphy workshops, was inspired for the craft by her grandfather - a typographer who hand-designed a newspaper.
Jenya Adamova is a delicate observer of the world around us with its endless variety of shapes, rhythms and colors. Her works bring the feeling of lightness, calmness and balance that she seeks and finds everywhere. She loves to experiment with different techniques and is inspired by the sonorous and unusual combinations between them that she discovers in the process of work. For Jenya, modeling with clay is a challenge and a passion – an endless journey where the direction and experience are more important than the final goal.
ARTISANS (from A to Z)
Page 1: Adriana Gerasimova, Albena Djokova, Alexandra Georgieva – Sashettu, Alexandra Kamburova – Tulipa, Angelina Tsvetkova, Antoaneta Ramdjulska – Ramjuly, Atanas Konstantinov – Artefakti
Page 2: Boriana Hadzhimincheva – BOD, Chushkarevi family, Constantine Zlatev, Dimitar Nikolaev, Dimitar Stankov, Emilian Bonev, Esnaf Toys
Page 3: Evgenia Tsankova, Georgi Troyanov, Hristo Totsev, Jacklina Jekova, Jenya Adamova, Lilian Shtereva, Lyudmil Yordanov
Page 4: Mano de Ana, Maria’s Nature Toys, Mental Syndicate, Neva Balnikova, Nikolay Sardarov, NO\ON Design Studio, Ornamento
Page 5: Pottery & Poetry, Rami Hammoud, Rosie Eisor, Silvia Chaneva, Stopan, Studio Tochka & Tochka, Tikla
Page 6: Tsvetana Nedeva-Silvion – Kinderlist, Tsvetelina Alexieva, Twisted Mud Studio, Yana Tankovska, Yana Yunakova, &HUE
