For the title of the “testing” event we have chosen the association with the Ancient Greek word “τέχνη” from which the very notion for art has originated. Our intention is to challenge and ridicule the wide spread notion that art practice, as well as the individual artist should be restricted by or dedicated to only a set of predetermined media.
The not so correct view that contemporary artists are associated mainly with the so-called new media is quite common in Bulgaria. Being wrong, this and any other such simplistic notions tend to restrict the freedom of creation and narrow the possibility to explore artistic expression without limits. The members of the ICA-Sofia decided to risk and realize their ideas in ways and techniques not typically identified with each one of them. In order to achieve the maximum clarity of the experiment we decided to “allocate” the various techniques (that are available freely to any contemporary artist the world over) to the members of the association through drawing lots – on pieces of paper the names of some basic techniques were written; then each artist drew from a hat one technique. The ICA-Sofia members do not doubt the role of luck in the career of an artist!
So, the exhibition “Techniques” is born out of the understanding of Ivan Moudov for painting; of Kalin Serapionov for performance; of Kiril Prashkov for photography; of Krassimir Terziev for the site specific; of Luchezar Boyadjiev for drawing; of Mariela Gemisheva for sculpture; of Nedko Solakov for video; of Pravdoliub Ivanov for the “digital”…; of Stefan Nikolaev for sound. The cultural studies specialist Alexander Kiossev is demonstrating text as technique; the curators of the show Maria Vassileva and Iara Boubnova are tracking down the various connections and influences, the meanings and interpretations borrowed from the domain of contemporary art – all which has motivated the artists in the show in their pursuit of a specific technique.
The exhibition “Techniques” aims to be a self-ironical comment on the making of art, on the notion of the uninfluenced creative search, on the ideas for mastery and uniqueness. The exhibition is being opened in the middle of the summer and at the height of the vacation season in Bulgaria because there is no “low season” for the ICA-Sofia…
The new home of ICA-Sofia is made possible because of the generosity of Slava Nakovska and Nedko Solakov to who goes our deepest gratitude!
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