2003 » Bulgaria » National Exhibition

Bulgaria

The National Exhibit displays a view of the works of three different generations of Bulgarian scenographers. It combines well established designers with emerging artists, professors and former students. This choice offers a dual outlook on the Bulgarian scenography today as well as on its future, and raises interesting questions. Inevitably, the exhibit is the evidence of the vast changes, which have taken place in Bulgarian theatre during the last 12 years.

Exhibiting artists / ateliers

• Svetoslav Kokalov

* 1955, Bulgarene
Additional information: He graduated from the National Academy of Art, Depart-ment of Scenography. He works in the field of set design for drama and operas in various productions in Bulgaria. He is a resident designer at the National Opera in Sofia and works as an Associate Professor of Set Design at the National Academy of Art, Department of Scenography. He is the Dean of the Department of Applied Arts at the National Academy of Art. He exhibited at PQ in 1979, 1995, 1999.
• Krassimir Valkanov

* 1949, Sofia
Specialization: teacher, set designer, costume designer
Additional information: Information from catalogue 1991: Born 1949 in Sofia. Stage designer, he works with various Bulgarian theatres. Specialization at J.Szajna (Warsaw, 1977). He is lecturer at the Art Academy in Sofia. In 1990 he has obtained Award for scenography at the Novi Sad Triennale. Information from catalogue 1999: Stage and costume designer. Studied scenography at the National Academy of Fine Arts in Sofia and at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw ( with prof. Jozef Szajna). Currently works at the Drama Theatre Sofia. He is an associate professor in the Scenography Department at the National Academy of Fine Arts in Sofia. Awarded bronze medal at the Triennial in Novi Sad in 1990. He exhibited at the PQ in 1991 and 1995.
• Силва Бъчварова (Silva Batchvarova)

* 1953, Plovdiv
Specialization: teacher, set designer, costume designer, painter , puppet designer, scenographer, Illustrator, CG & 3D modeling
Education: National Academy of Arts - Sofia, Department of Scenography
Collaboration with theatres: Various theatres in Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Mexico
Teaching activities: Painting and puppet scenography at the National Academy of Arts, Sofia
Participation in other important exhibitions: Solo exhibitions of scenography: Tolosa/Spain, Alicante, Spain, Zagreb/Croatia; general exhibitions in Prague/Czech Republic, Bratislava/Slovakia, Tokyo/Japan; “The Artist and Theatre”, Sofia/Bulgaria
Continuing collaboration with directors: Slavi Malenov, Peter Pashov
Awards: Many awards from Bulgarian and international puppet festivals
Additional information: Her name is associated with productions, which have received international recognition. She lectured at the National Academy for Theatrical and Film Arts in Sofia.
• Васил Рокоманов (Vasil Rokomanov)

* 1954, Sliven
Specialization: teacher, set designer, costume designer, puppet designer, scenographer
Education: scenography, National Academy of Arts, Sofia
Collaboration with theatres: Various theatres in Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Mexico
Teaching activities: Professor, history of the stage and scenography, technique and technology, puppet scenography, theatre anthropology, National Academy of Art, Sofia  
Participation in other important exhibitions: Solo exhibitions of scenography: Tolosa/Spain, Alicante, Spain, Zagreb/Croatia; general exhibitions in Prague/Czech Republic, Bratislava/Slovakia, Tokyo/Japan; “The Artist and Theatre”, Sofia/Bulgaria
Continuing collaboration with directors: Slavi Malenov, Peter Pashov
Awards: Many awards from Bulgarian and international puppet festivals
Additional information: He is a puppet theatre designer, teacher of theatre technology and history of scenography. His design credits include posters for drama and puppet shows, illustrations for books and magazines, arrangements of exhibitions.
• Димитър Воденичаров (Dimitar Vodenicharov)

Peštera
Specialization: teacher, costume designer, lighting designer, painter , puppet designer, scenographer
Education: National Academy of Art, Sofia
Collaboration with theatres: Razgrad Drama Theatre, Plovdiv Drama Theatre, Plovdiv Puppet Theatre, Smolyan Drama Theatre
Teaching activities: Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Art, Plovdiv
Participation in other important exhibitions: Exhibitions in Bulgaria and Europe
Continuing collaboration with directors: Leonard Kapon, Krasimir Rankov
Additional information: Born in 1960 in Peschtera. Stage and costume designer, freelance artist. Studied scenography at the National Academy of Fine Arts in Sofia.
• Radina Bliznakova

* 1947, Sofia
Additional information: In 1971 she graduated from the Nikolaj Pavlovich Academy of Fine Arts in Sofia, where she studied stage designing under Prof. N.Nikolov. At present she works for the Yovkov Drama Théatre in Tolbukhin. She has participated in national exhibitions. She exhibited at PQ in 1975, 1979, 1983.
• Todor Ignatov

* 1951, Nikopol
Additional information: He graduated from the Department of Scenography at the National Academy of Art. He works in the field of set and costume design for drama and opera theatre. He is a resi-dent designer at the Drama Theatre, Varna. His professional works include interior design and painting as well. He exhibited at PQ in 1983 - 1999.
• Petya Stoykova

* 1957, Sofia
Additional information: She graduated from the National Academy of Art, Depart-ment of Scenography. Since then she works in the field of costume, puppet and set design for various productions in Bulgaria. Now she is a resident designer at the Theatre Off the Canal, Sofia. She exhibited at the PQ in 1979, 1995, 1999.
• Весела Статкова (Vessela Statkova Kareva)

Specialization: teacher, media artist, scenographer
Education: MFA Scenography, National Academy of Arts, Sofia; Burg Giebichenstein HKD, Halle, Germany
Teaching activities: Assoc. Professor - CAD for Scenography; Multimedia & VR, AMDFA - Plovdiv
Additional information: She graduated from the National Academy of Arts, Department of Scenography. Her post graduate studies were at Burg Giebichenstein Hochschule für Kunst und Design in Halle, Germany. There she specialized in multimedia and virtual reality design. She works as a freelance designer in the areas of set and costume design for drama theatre, multimedia, installation art. She teaches a computer aided design course at the Academy of Music and Dance, Plovdiv. www.wessela.com
• Мира Каланова (Mira Kalanova)

* 1975
Specialization: teacher, costume designer, scenographer
Education: MA in scenography, PhD in cinematographic art
Collaboration with theatres: National Theatre Ivan Vazov, Varna Drama Theatre
Teaching activities: Costume design, the function of color in visual art, National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, Sofia
Continuing collaboration with directors: Plamen Markov
Additional information: She graduated from the National Academy of Art, Department of Scenography. She works as a freelance set and costume designer for theatres as well as for film, video, entertainment music, and commercial productions.
• Чайка Петрушева (Chayka Petrusheva)

* 1951, Sofia
Specialization: teacher, set designer, costume designer, scenographer
Education: National Academy of Arts, Sofia
Collaboration with theatres: Ivan Vazov National Theatre; Salza I Smiah Theatre, Sofia, Adriana Budevska Theatre, Burgas; and more
Teaching activities: Associate Professor, NATFA, Sofia
Participation in other important exhibitions: All national exhibitions of scenography in the past 30 years
Continuing collaboration with directors: Krasimir Spasov, Nikolay Lambrev, Mihail Sabev, Nedyalko Yordanov, Jiri Menzel
Additional information: Stage and costume designer. Studied scenography at the National Academy of Fine Arts in Sofia. She currently teaches scenography at the National Academy for Theatrical and Film Arts in Sofia.
• Марина Райчинова (Marina Raytchinova)

* 1961, Plovdiv
Specialization: teacher, set designer, costume designer, lighting designer, scenographer, OISTAT
Education: MFA, National Academy of Arts, Sofia
Collaboration with theatres: Resident designer at the Bulgarian Army Theatre; Ivan Vazov National Theatre; Theatre 199; Binev Theatre for the Youth, Sofia; Clarence Brown Theatre, Knoxville USA
Teaching activities: Associate professor, Department Scenography, National Academy, Sofia; taught set and costume design at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; has been guest lecturer at the University of Nebraska, University of Kansas, Furman University, USA; RITS, Hogesschool, Brussels; UT Design Seminar, Salzburg; North Karelia Polytechnic, Joensuu, Finland; Mimar Sinan University, Istanbul; University of the Arts, Belgrade; and others
Participation in other important exhibitions: WSD Gallery Exhibit Toronto 2005
Continuing collaboration with directors: Krikor Azaryan, Krasimir Spasov, Snejina Tankovska
Additional information: She graduated from the National Academy of Arts, Sofia. She is a scenic and costume designer with theatre credits in Bulgaria, Macedonia, Russia, Switzerland, France and the USA. She is a temporary resident designer at "Bulgarian Army" Theatre, Sofia and Associate professor of History of Costume and Scenography at the National Academy of Arts, Sofia. Chair of the OISTAT Education Commission since 2004. Was actively involved in organizing Scenofest 2003 and Scenofest at PQ’07. She exhibited at PQ in 1987, 1995, 1999.
• Елица Георгиева (Elica Georgieva)

* 1972, Rousse
Specialization: scenographer
Education: National Academy of Art, Sofia  
Collaboration with theatres: Varna Drama Theatre, Plovdiv Drama Theatre, Ruse Drama Theatre, Sofia Youth Drama Theatre, Sofia National Theatre
Participation in other important exhibitions: Various national exhibitions
Continuing collaboration with directors: Boyan Ivanov, Petar Kaukov, Stoyan Radev, etc.
Additional information: She graduated from the National Academy of Art, Department of Scenography. She works as a freelance designer in the areas of set and costume design for drama theatres in Sofia and other areas of the country.
• Никола Тороманов (Nikola Toromanov)

* 05.12.1968, Sofia, Bulgaria
Specialization: set designer, costume designer, lighting designer
Education: National Academy of Art, Sofia
Collaboration with theatres: National Theatre, Sofia; Varna Drama Theatre; Theatre of Nations, Moscow
Continuing collaboration with directors: Javor Gardev, Marius Kurkinski, Alexander Morfov
Additional information: He is a freelance set and costume designer. He has created designs for productions at theatres in Bulgaria and abroad and his design credits include several TV productions, books and catalogues.
• Nevena Kavaldžieva (Nevena Kavaldgieva)

Additional information: She graduated from the the National Academy of Art, Department Scenography. Now she serves as a resident designer for Theater "Sofia" and teaches puppet design at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts and at the Theatre Department of The New Bulgarian University. She exhibited at PQ in 1967 - 1987, 1995, 1999.
• Šigeo Okajima

* 1927, Tokyo
Specialization: set designer
Additional information: Set designer, collaborating with Tokyo Engeki Ensemble. He participated in PQ 1983, 1987, 1991.
• Иван Карев (Ivan Karev)

* 07.09.1960, Plovdiv
Specialization: set designer, costume designer, lighting designer, scenographer
Education: MA Scenography at the National Academy of Arts - Sofia, Bulgaria
Collaboration with theatres: Constantine Velichkov Theatre, Pazardzhik; Salza i Smyah Theatre, Sofia; Kardzhali Drama Theatre; Theatre of Satire; Ivan Vazov National Theatre; Kalejdoskop Teater, Malmö/Sweden; Skopje Drama Theatre, Macedonia
Continuing collaboration with directors: Dimitar Ignatov, Vladlen Alexandrov, Zeljko Santrac, Grisha Ostrovsky, Krasimir Spasov, Iskender Altin etc.
Additional information: He works in the areas of set and costume design for drama theatre, multimedia and installation art. He is the resident designer and technical director at the Drama Theatre Pazardjik.
• Nevena Beleva

* 1976, Sofia
Additional information: She graduated from the National Academy of Art, Depart-ment of Scenography. She works as a freelance designer in the areas of set and costume design for various drama theatres in Bulgaria.
• Kancho Kasabov

* 1974, Plovdiv
Additional information: He graduated from the National Academy of Art, Depart-ment of Scenography. He works in the area of set and costume design for theatre. He exhibited at PQ 1995, 1999.
• Vecheslav Parapanov

* 1947
Additional information: He graduated from the National Academy of Art, Depart-ment of Illustration and Book Design. He works in the field of set and costume design for drama theatre, TV and film productions. He presently works as a resident designer at the Drama Theatre "Tear and Laughter", Sofia. His profes-sional interests include stage directing and playwriting.
• Katerina Pelovska

* 1976, Sofia
Specialization: director, Stage and costume designer
Additional information: She graduated from the New Bulgarian University, Theatre Department. She works in the field of set and costume design for drama theatre. Her professional interests also include film directing, and she has relaesed several experi-mental and documentary films. She exhibited at PQ 1999.