16 December 2023

Sarieva/Gallery Annual Report for 2023

2023 Highlights

As we approach the end of 2023, we take a moment to reflect on the dynamic and exciting year that has unfolded—a journey marked by changes, new beginnings, and thrilling adventures. Throughout this time, we have passionately expressed ourselves creatively, embracing initiatives like newly opened Sarieva @ DOT Sofia, and had the honor of collaborating with a remarkable roster of artists, including Rada Boukova, Luchezar Boyadjiev, Pravdoliub Ivanov, Stefan Nikolaev, Rudi Ninov, Nedko Solakov, Kamen Stoyanov, and Valio Tchenkov. Additionally, we were delighted to showcase for first time in Bulgaria the works by Kosovo based artist Artan Hajrullahu.

This annual report provides a comprehensive overview of our exhibitions and collaborations throughout the year, shedding light on the artistic endeavors of our represented talents. Furthermore, it offers a glimpse into our exciting plans for 2024.

EXHIBITIONS IN 2023

The year 2023 proved to be an exhilarating chapter for Sarieva/Gallery, characterized by experimentation and bold choices. We successfully presented six exhibitions across three distinct spaces, garnering significant attention from both the media and the public. The introduction of the +1 temporary project space in Plovdiv and the unveiling of our collaborative venue, Sarieva @ DOT Sofia in the capital, Sofia, marked notable milestones in our journey. In 2023 we exhibited: Beige by Aaron Roth; +1 by Sophia Grancharova, Dimitar Genchev and Velizar Dimchev; I Don't Know What You Are Talking About by Pravdoliub Ivanov; A House Without Walls by Artan Hajrullahu; Transformation at the Level of the Eyes by Pravdoliub Ivanov; HOME by Stefan Nikolaev.

In 2023, Sarieva/Gallery participated in Art Brussels, showcasing Rudi Ninov's solo booth titled Voice Lines. The exhibit was recognized as one of the standout booths of the year.

SARIEVA @ DOT SOFIA

In September 2023, following an extensive construction phase and thoughtful preparations, DOT Sofia opened its doors, marking the official collaboration with Sarieva/Gallery. Vesselina Sarieva, representing the gallery, conceived a creative concept, curated an art collection, and developed an event program for the new venue. Coincidentally, on the opening day, DOT Sofia was honored with the 'Building of the Year' award.

As previously mentioned, the art collection at DOT Sofia was curated by Vesselina Sarieva and currently includes works by artists such as Dessislava Terzieva, Dimitar Genchev, Dimitar Shopov, Kamen Stoyanov, Krassimir Terziev, Luchezar Boyadjiev, Maria Nalbantova, Martina Vacheva, Michail Michailov, Mitch Brezounek, Nedko Solakov, Pravdoliub Ivanov, Rudi Ninov, Stefan Nikolaev, Stela Vasileva, Valio Tchenkov, Vikenti Komitski, Zara Alexandrova, and Zoran Georgiev. Some of these works are displayed throughout the entire DOT building, including hidden doodles by Nedko Solakov on the walls.

Looking ahead to 2024, Sarieva/Gallery has a multitude of projects and events planned for Sarieva @ DOT Sofia, promising engaging experiences for the capital's audience. The reception in Sofia has been exceptional, and we are delighted that our two projects - Stefan Nikolaev's HOME and Pravdoliub Ivanov's Transformation at the Level of the Eyes - garnered significant attention not only within the art sphere but also beyond. We aim to expand our audience further and extend a warm welcome to more individuals into the contemporary art world. This marks just the beginning of our journey with Sarieva @ DOT Sofia, and we eagerly anticipate your presence at our upcoming exhibition openings in the near future.

SELECTED MEDIA

In 2023, Sarieva/Gallery experienced a significant surge in media attention, garnering coverage from various platforms, including online media, television, and radio. Our first exhibition of the year, Бейж by Aaron Roth, attracted considerable press coverage, due to its political undertones. The young artist was interviewed for Kultura!BG, Bulgarian National Television, and Chestno Kazano with Lyba Kulezich. Art Viewer, Telegraph, DARIK, Seen and many more also discussed his exhibition. The group show +1 was introduced in Art Viewer, just as Pravdoliub Ivanov’s I Don’t Know What You Are Talking About. Articles about Ivanov’s show were published in Kultura and Seen, and he gave an interview for Kultura!BG. The Bulgarian media was happy to welcome Artan Hajrullahu with segments in High View Art and Kultura!BG, as well as the international Art Viewer. Rudi Ninov's solo booth at Art Brussels, Voice Lines, was a total hit, highlighted by medias such as Weltkunst, DARE, FAD Magazine and Artsy. HOME by Stefan Nikolaev was covered by so many medias. Just a small portion of them are Impressio, The Sofia Globe, Boyscout, The Girls from the City, Capital, Kultura!BG and Art Viewer. In 2023 Vesselina Sarieva was nominated for the Grazia’s Woman of the Year awards, which landed her on the pages of EVA.

ARTISTS' HIGHLIGHTS 2023

Rada Boukova: Solo Shows: Au Anagrama, Posta Space, Sofia (curator Vera Mlechevska) / Group Shows: Dream Home, KO-OP, Sofia (curators Vera Mlechevska, Boyana Gyaurova and Adriana Andreeva) / Contemporary Art in the Collection of the European Parliament NOMINATED ARTWORKS, Sofia Arsenal - Museum of Contemporary Art, Sofia;

Luchezar Boyadjiev: Solo Shows: Public space, Private Size, Structura gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria (curator Aksiniya Peycheva) / Group shows: ON VACATION…/Aldona, Dialogue between Luchezar Boyadjiev's installation On vacation... and Emilija Škarnulytė's film Aldona, CLOSING SOON, Athens / Dream Home, KO-OP, Sofia (curators Vera Mlechevska, Boyana Gyaurova and Adriana Andreeva) / A Few Ways to Win the World, Doza Gallery, Sofia (curators Dessislava Dimova and Vera Mlechevska) / Autostrada Biennale – All Images Will Disappear, One Day, Prizren, Kosovo (curators Joanna Warsza and Övül Ö. Durmuşoğlu);

Pravdoliub Ivanov: Solo Shows: Transformation at the Level of the Eyes, Sarieva @ DOT Sofia, Sofia / I Don't Know What You Are Talking About, Sarieva/Gallery, Plovdiv / Group Shows: The Time is Now, Macedonia - Multimedia Center „Mala Stanica“, Skopje (curator Ana Frangovska) / Dream Home, KO-OP, Sofia (curators Vera Mlechevska, Boyana Gyaurova and Adriana Andreeva) / Don’t Dream Dreams – Works from the Art Collection Telekom, Moderna Galerija, Ljubljana, Slovenia (curators Nathalie Hoyos and Rainald Schumacher) / A Few Ways to Win the World, Doza Gallery, Sofia (curators Dessislava Dimova and Vera Mlechevska) / Beyond All Reason. In the Mirror of Surreal Times, Structura Gallery, Sofia (curator Gregor Jansen);

Stefan Nikolaev: Solo shows: HOME, Sarieva @ DOT Sofia, Sofia / Still Life Series and Marbles, Michel Rein Display, Michel Rein, Paris, France / Group Shows: A Decade in Brussels, Michel Rein, Brussels / Faites vos jeux !, Les Franciscaines, Deauville, France (curator Sébastien Gokalp) / 10 years Emergent, Veurne, Belgium (curators Hilde Borgermans & Frank Maes) / What goes up must come down, Michel Rein, Brussels, Belgium / A Few Ways to Win the World, Doza Gallery, Sofia (curators Dessislava Dimova and Vera Mlechevska) / Beyond All Reason. In the Mirror of Surreal Times, Structura Gallery, Sofia (curator Gregor Jansen);

Rudi Ninov: Solo Shows: Voice Lines, Sarieva/Gallery at Art Brussels 2023, Brussels (curator Vesselina Sarieva) / Writing Paintings, Galleria Continua, San Gimignano / Group Shows: Places and Events, KÖNIG Gallery, Berlin, Germany (curator Stefka Tsaneva);

Nedko Solakov: Solo Shows: A Cornered Solo Show #3 (with Charles Esche as my artistic conscience), Belvedere Museum, Vienna / Sheila Hicks and Nedko Solakov – Flying Colors in Yarn and Water, Galleria Massimo Minini, Brescia / Together (with Jiri Kovanda), Galleria Continua at Contemporary Art and Sculpture Park, Bechyne Castle, Czech Republic / A Cornered Solo Show #2, MAXXI - National Museum of 21st Century Art, Rome / Group Shows: A Matter of Time, Crawford Art Gallery, Cork, (curator Dawn Williams) / Elmgeen & Dragset: READ, Kunsthalle Praha, Prague (curators Elmgeen & Dragset) / Emotion, Chiostro del Bramante, Rome (curator Danilo Eccher) / Seven Deadly Sins, Kunsthalle Krems, Krems (curators Andreas Hoffer and Elisabeth Kainberger) / Happy, Structura Gallery, Sofia, Bulgaria (curator Johan Gustavsson) / Peyrassoldoodles among Philippe Austruy Collection, Commanderie de Peyrassol, Flassans-sur-Issole, Franc /The Ability to Dream, Galleria Continua, Les Moulins, Boissy-le-Châtel, Paris (curators committee) / Beyond All Reason. In the Mirror of Surreal Times, Structura Gallery, Sofia (curator Gregor Jansen) / Gifted Eye, Teylers Museum, Haarlem (curators committee) / Illusions, KAI 10 | ARTHENA FOUNDATION, Düsseldorf (curator Ludwig Seyfarth) / A Few Ways to Win the World, Doza Gallery, Sofia (curators Dessislava Dimova and Vera Mlechevska);

Kamen Stoyanov: Solo Shows: Robotronic Revolution, Scope BLN, Berlin (curator Boris Kostadinov) / Group Shows: 2000S. BYE-BYE CONFIDENCE, Wien Museum MUSA, Vienna / Past not passed 2023, Second edition, festival, Triangular Tower of Serdica, Sofia;

Valio Tchenkov: Group Shows: The physics of Sorrow, Cu29, Plovdiv;

UPCOMING IN 2024

In 2024 Sarieva/Gallery will continue presenting art in both Plovidv and Sofia, working in the sphere of discovery and rediscovery of artists, as always. We'll also continue presenting in Sarieva @ DOT Sofia, and we have some suprises for the Sofia audience in store. In 2024 we'll also be welcoming two new names to our list of represented artists and we'll be making this announcement fairly soon. Stay subscribed to our mailing list to receive info about upcoming fairs throughout the year. Follow our activities on our website and in the social media Facebook and Instagram.