▲ Poster
About the Program
Initiated by Embassy of P.R. China in Bulgaria and co-sponsored by China Cultural Center in Sofia and Sofia City Government, the "Light Beyond the City · Bulgarian-Chinese Public Art Exhibition" will be held at Slaviekov Square in the center of Sofia in February 2021. Invited by Embassy of P.R. China in Bulgaria, and in order to promote mutual cooperation in education and research between the two art academies, enhance friendship, and deepen educational exchanges, the China Academy of Art and the National Academy of Art as the organizers, mainly curated by Zheng Jing and Assadour Markarov, the teachers and students of the two academies cooperate in the form of international workshops to complete the project and the exhibition. This exhibition, as a joint art project, will show to the Bulgarian audience a series of public artworks related to the traditional art lighting techniques combined with contemporary art forms.
The project “Light beyond the city” is an international exchange lecture program and workshop between the School of Sculpture and Public Art of the China Academy of Art and the National Academy of Art, Sofia, Bulgaria. The students from the Departments of Sculpture, Public Space Art and Fiber Art complete it. The entire project lasts for three months, included lectures and workshops. Students make proposals and execute the artworks by them selves, and the final completed artworks will be presented in Slaviekov Square in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Preface
This project "Light Beyond the City · Bulgarian-Chinese Public Art Exhibition" included artists and graduate students from the China Academy of Art and National Academy of Art in Sofia, held in the public space of “Slaveikov” square, a significant and popular site in the centre of the city of Sofia.
Lantern art is a traditional folk and handicraft that originated in China. It began in the Western Han Dynasty and flourished in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. It was particularly popular in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Lantern art reflects the ingenuity and originality of the Chinese nation. It integrates abstract compositions, metaphorical sculptural objects, realistic paintings, composite decoration and light moving mechanisms. The art of making lanterns reflects the broad spirit of Chinese culture with strong national characteristics, it is an art form that integrates art, culture and aesthetics and has a vibrant national colour. With the development of the times, this art has embraced new elements and forms creating more sturdy lanterns.
This is a thematic exhibition developed through site specific artworks and underpinned by the present state of thought about the traditions based on and inspired by light as a medium. The exhibition presents artworks in conjunction with outdoor public space and highlights traditional art lighting techniques combined with contemporary art forms shown within this joint art project to the Bulgarian audience. ‘Light beyond the City’ is the first public art exhibition related to the concept of lanterns and lighting revealed in Bulgaria. Questioning themselves and today’s reality, participants of the event try to create their own understanding of the ‘image’ of a traditional lantern. The artworks on show, simply put, had as its basic tenet an understanding that artists work with meaning, not only with materials, shapes, colours and techniques, and related new technologies. With the temporary character of this show and the aesthetic influence of light as an art form, the exhibition cultivates a new artistic vision and social activity in this public place.
These artworks invite: the intention to get more attention - engage and challenge the audience – evoke interaction with the public – engage the spectators - make a dialogue with the “Slaveikov” square environment.
The exhibition will be shown for period of two months during the Chinese New Year Festival at February 2021, inspired by tradition and lighting, with the aim to draw out the beauty of the city’s night scenes, create a new artistic vision of the place and bring different ways of public engagement such as entertainment, education, and unadulterated joy in light.
ARTWORKS
Diana Vasileva, "Urban cloud", plexiglas tubes and LED lights, 250×110×420cm
Elizar Milev, "Structure", metal frame, IBS board, LED lights, 300×120×120cm
Hu Jianshu, "In the Lights", steel frame, lantern, acrylic, led light, composite material, 300×150×150cm
India Karmova, "Celestial Light", plexiglas tubes and LED lights, variable dimensions
Jia Tongtong, "Koi", acrylic, steel frame, light strip, variable dimensions
Krasen Troanski, "Lucky cat", PVC figures, stainless steel and LED lights, 150x150x170cm
Li Shiqing, "Circle & Wish", paper, glue, waterproof paint, LED light, variable dimensions
Liu Wanjun, "Clouds", steel frame, sequins, led lights, 400×150×8cm
Liu Zhaodong, "The Night", stainless steel frame, wall washer, built-in program, variable dimensions
Tang Ying, "Memories", acrylic, LED light, 30×30×1cm each
Wu Hongye, "Star Tree", steel frame, led light, wooden sign, 250×200×200cm
Wushan Yanru, "Suspended Missing", acrylic, light box, LED, 12×80×80cm each
Wu Xueqian, "Into the Mirror", elastic band, u-shaped groove, acrylic, LED light, 620×876×390cm
Xie JunYi, "Clumping", resin LED light spring steel wire, variable dimensions
Xia Yu, "Conserving Memories", epoxy, fluorescent sticks, bulbs, LED colorful lights, wire, variable dimensions
Yane Gadzhev, "Embroidery Glitter Lantern", steel, 300×60×60cm
Zhang Bin, "Stargazing", iron or bamboo bracket, thin light strip, LED light, 140×140×50cm each
Chen Shiting, "Copy: Flying Books 1-15", acrylic, light strip, 50×50×50cm each
