National Gallery Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art presents
Roots – 16 contemporary sculptors for Galin Malakchiev
Participants: Boryana Petkova, Valentina Sharra, Ventsislav Zankov, Georgi Donov, Emil Bachiiski, Kiril Kuzmanov, Kosyo Minchev, Martian Tabakov, Martin Trifonov, Nevena Ekimova, Orlin Ivanov, Pancho Kurtev, Rafail Georgiev – Rafo, Simeon Simeonov, Simeon Simeonov Dechev
Curators: Nadezhda Dzhakova and Tanya Staneva
July 22 – September 19, 2021
SAMSI, 2 Cherni Vrah Blvd.
“Roots” is dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the birth of Galin Malakchiev (1931-1987) and aims to present the latest trends and searches in sculpture on the example of Galin Malakchiev, whose name is associated with innovation, overturning traditional notions. for plasticity, opposition to the official framework.
The exhibition includes extensive visual material related to the work of Galin Malakchiev, his easel sculpture and realized projects for public buildings. For the first time, scanned and enlarged drawings from Galin Malakchiev’s sketchbook will be shown, including many sketches of metal sculptures. During the exhibition you will be able to watch the film “Galin Malakchiev” (1984) by director Vasil Minchev, who shot the artist in his studio in the village of Batulia.
These 16 sculptors, selected for the exhibition, did not communicate personally with Galin Malakchiev (with the exception of Ventsislav Zankov, who visited him and spent time in the studio). These are the next generation of artists who know him from his works and the stories of their teachers at the Academy of Arts – teachers, close friends of Galin – Prof. Krum Damyanov, Prof. Angel Stanev and others.
We also find what we have learned in the texts of the participants that accompany the works. They are also a poetic commentary on the attitude to the personality and work of Galin Malakchiev. His most cited work is the monumental work “For the Letters” in the garden of the National Palace of Culture as one of the best examples of sculpture in public space.
This continuity in the artistic tradition and its meaning is the unifying link between so many different contemporary sculptors and the legacy of Galin.
We thank for the provided documents and photographs related to the life and work of Galin Malakchiev at the Union of Bulgarian Artists, the art galleries in Plovdiv, Dobrich, Pleven, Targovishte and Gabrovo, Tsvetana Malakchieva, Deni Krastev, Maria Arangelova and Emil Bachiiski.
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