Several ways to win the world – BULGARIAN ART AND CULTURE FOUNDATION

March 22 – April 13, 2023

Curators: Vera Mlechevska and Desislava Dimova

With the participation of:

Veneta Androva, Lachezar Boyadzhiev, Martina Vacheva, Mariela Gemisheva, Alla Georgieva, Geri Georgieva, Ivo Dimchev, Orlin Dvoryanov and the group Kukuv den, Vladimir Ivanov, Pravdolyub Ivanov, Tsvetan Krastev, Ventseslav Kostov, Albena Mihaylova – Benji, Ivan Mudov, Stefan Nikolaev, Adelina Popnedeleva, Krasimir Krastev – RASSIM, Boryana Rossa and ULTRAFUTURO, Georgi Ruzhev, Veselin Sariev, Kalin Serapionov, Nedko Solakov, Sasho Stoitsov, Krasimir Terziev, Huben Cherkelov, Stanka Tsonkova – Usha and the personal archives of the artists.

The exhibition presents a look at the history of contemporary Bulgarian art through its performative self-presentation to the outside world in an attempt at dialogue - real and imagined.

We can speculate that the identity of Bulgarian art is not an intrinsic characteristic, but is played out over and over again, for and in front of the eyes of each new potential viewer. Who we are is simply a series of variants and possible roles.

In the history of contemporary Bulgarian art, this inevitably present external gaze is as much internally assimilated as it is sabotaged. It informs an always double vision. Part of this duality can be considered a legacy of the artist’s “internal emigration” during socialism and his desire to project a different meaning into “the same.” However, doubling is often used by the artist to confuse and challenge the external gaze in its prejudice and expectation of finding something radically different and specific, offering it instead a mirror image, simply more of the same.

The exhibition takes as its occasion the interest shown by the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, in including works of Bulgarian art in the museum's collection. Through the imaginary gaze of a world museum, the exhibition reenacts the theater of what we want (or don't want) the world to see of us.

"Several Ways to Win the World" is organized by the DOMA ART Foundation and the Bulgarian Art and Culture Foundation, and is realized with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture.

A Few Ways to Win the World

22 March – 13 April 2023

Doza Gallery

Opening 22 March (Wednesday) 18.00 – 21.00

The exhibition looks into the history of contemporary Bulgarian art through its performative self-presentation to the outside world in an attempt at a dialogue – real and imagined.

We can speculate that the identity of Bulgarian art is not an intrinsic characteristic, but is played out again and again, for and in front of the gaze of each new potential viewer. Who we are is simply a string of possible roles.

In the history of contemporary Bulgarian art, this inescapable external gaze is as much internally assimilated as it is subject to sabotage. It informs an inevitably double vision. Part of this ambivalence can be seen as a legacy of the artist’s „internal emigration“ during socialism and the desire to project a different meaning into the surrounding „sameness.“ Doubling, however, is also often used by the artist to confuse and challenge the external gaze in its preconceived ideas and the expectation to find something different, offering instead a mirror image, simply more of the same.

The exhibition takes as pretext the interest expressed by the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, in including works of contemporary Bulgarian art in the museum’s collection. Through the imaginary gaze of an international museum, the exhibition re-enacts the theatre of what we want (or don’t want) the world to see of us.

Curators: Dessislava Dimova and Vera Mlechevska

With the participation of:

Veneta Androva, Luchezar Boyadjiev, Martina Vacheva, Mariela Gemisheva, Alla Georgieva, Gery Georgieva, Ivo Dimchev, Orlin Dvoryanov and Kukuv Den Group, Pravdoliub Ivanov, Tsvetan Krastev, Ventseslav Kostov, Albena Mihailova – Benji, Ivan Moudov, Stefan Nikolaev, Adelina Popnedeleva, RASSIM, Boryana Rossa and ULTRAFUTURO, Georgi Ruzhev, Vesselin Sariev, Kalin Serapionov, Nedko Solakov, Sasho Stoitzov, Krasimir Terziev, Huben Cherkelov, Stanka Tsonkova – Usha and personal archives.

“A Few Ways to Win the World“ is organized by the Bulgarian Art and Culture Foundation and DOMA ART Foundation, and realized with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture.