Luchezar Boyadjiev, Stefan Nikolaev, Pravdoliub Ivanov – SPARKS OF IMAGINATION: on the Frequencies of Beuys – National Gallery, Kvadrat 500

In 2021, Germany and the world celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Beuys. Beuys2021 was an initiative that took place in Germany which aimed to examine and question Beuys
relevance today and his legacy for global contemporary art. In the local context the question was quite different: How was Joseph Beuys art important for Bulgaria?

Beuys’ ideas were recognised in Bulgaria after the social climate became suitable for them. A contradictory figure, Joseph Beuys was a visionary who continues to inspire. One of the key elements in his art is his theory of social sculpture – concerning the transformative power of art and its ability to influence social change. The exhibition in the National Gallery, in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut, Bulgaria, aims to rethink social reality and search for alternative forms of creativity and freedom.

The exhibition was situated not only in the space of the National Gallery – Kvadrat 500 – but also in new areas, including screenings, lectures, performances and tours around Sofia.

The curator of the exhibition was Vera Mlechevska.
Participants: Adelina Popnedeleva, Albena Mihaylova, Alexander Valchev, Veselin Dimov, Vladimir Ivanov, Georgi Ruzhev, Gradat Group, Dobromir Ivan, Art in Action Association, Ivo Dimchev, Kamen Stoyanov, Lyuben Farzulev, Luchezar Boyadjiev, Monika Popova, Miryana Todorova, Orlin Dvoryanov, Pravdoliub Ivanov, RAB Group, Sasho Stoitszov, Stanislav Pamukchiev, Stefan Nikolaev, Stanka Tsonkova – Usha, and Tsvetan Krastev, among others.