Biography
Albena Mihaylova-Bendji was born on 9 June 1959 in Plovdiv. In 1984 she graduated from the National Academy of Arts, Sofia, in a Original graphics class. 1984-1994 she was an active artist with a number of solo exhibitions, participations in international biennials and a winner of awards. At the center of her work is the relationship between the two-dimensional and its spatial equivalent. As a result unique installations and performances are born. In 1989 she was one of the founders of the legendary art group “RUB”. During that time, the artist inspired and lead the organization of one of the first private galleries in Bulgaria – the Akrabov Gallery, which functioned as a resident center for contemporary art, and also she was Associate Professor at the School of Performing Arts in Plovdiv. In 1994 Albena left for Zurich at the invitation of BINZ 39 Foundation as a resident artist. As consequence of this exchange, she has promoted the gallery under the International Resartist Program and organized the exchange of artists, projects and festivals between Bulgaria and Switzerland. In the period 1995-1998 Albena Mihaylova-Bendji specialized in a Master class in Video Art at the Higher Art School of Basel, Switzerland. In 2008, she was nominated for the M-Tel Award for Bulgarian Contemporary Art. Since 2008 Albena Mihaylova-Bendji works as a documentary filmmaker, director and cinematographer. In 2009, she found a platform for cultural exchange, exhibitions and film festivals at Basel - Culturinstitut AM contemporary. Currently the artist works and lives in Basel. Her creative biography includes her membership in the artistic group “VIA Audio Video Art”, her work in the governance of the creative union “VISARTE BASEL” and she leads workshops for Artlink Bern and Solothurn Higher Pedagogical School. She is a member of “Balimage”, an association of filmmakers and video artists.
About
Once a friend of mine asked me, 'At what times should we not trust intuition?' I said, 'The moment we don't trust it.' This conversation in a special way is connected in my mind with the artistic mood of Albena Mihaylova Bendji.
All her work, no matter whether it is her prints, installations, or performances – they hold the feeling of irrational infinity. For example, some time ago she made the print-series 'Sun Clock' and 'Moon Clock'. As long as we think about clocks, we are still in the sphere of the rational things: the time measuring machines. But looking at the abstract shapes we understand that behind reason there is a great irrational background, a whole world with its own rules, which we imagine as Nature, God, Philosophy and Powers of all kinds, named or unnamed. The Unknown frightens us, but Albena Mihaylova Bendji is not afraid of it. And she has the courage to make use of it. Her intuitive knowledge is so strong and deeply influenced that we understand it, even if we cannot understand the artwork itself. It is strange also that this absurd situation does not disturb the public. Probably because all shapes, strokes and spaces, which form the surface of her artwork, are well balanced; because the technology and the materials are very professionally applied, or because the ancient signs and magic symbols are still there, somewhere in the memory of every one of us. However, looking at Albena Mihaylova's work, we just know she is playing her own game: dangerous for everyone but natural for the artist.
So we have nothing to do but trust the intuition of Albena Mihaylova Bendji. She knows…
- Diana Popova, Art critic and curator
Katalog Bendji / Albena Mihaylova. Persomnum, 2005
Gallery
Albena Bendji Mihaylova
DISTANCIA, 2017.
Film
Details
- Photographer: Vesselin Hristov, Albena Mihaylova
- Material: Documentary, 75'
- Property of: Albena Bendji Mihaylova
- Description: Albena, a Bulgarian artist living in Switzerland, arrives in her native town of Plovdiv. She is back to spend the Christmas time with her 89-years-old mother. At their very private dinner, their conversation reaches a point of conflict: it is 43 years to the day since their 17-years-old son and brother committed suicide in an act of political and personal protest. The mother doesn’t want to talk about it. The film moves back and forth between past and present and between locations in Plovdiv, Prague and Basel, to reveal the circumstances that led to brother’s death. Albena traces her family’s story through conversations with her mother and brother’s school mates, family photos, archival material from the late 1960s, and with her paintings and drawings she made to ease the pain after her brother’s death. Gradually, mother and daughter open up their hearts to talk about their family drama. In some very emotional scenes their feelings of guilt have begun to dissipate, clearing the way for forgiveness between mother and daughter.
- Copyright: Culturinstitut BnB Basel, Albena Mihaylova
Albena Bendji Mihaylova
Ageless, 2014.
Video installation
Details
- Photographer: Albena Bendji Mihaylova
- Material: Video records 1 min., prints on paper (4 x 700), drawings, animation
- Sizes: The video installation featuring three portraits and a self portrait of the artist, shown on four vertically positioned monitors. The final image is a result of a process achieved in the analogue media order: A 1-minute video of each figure
- Property of: Albena Bendji Mihaylova
- Description: The video installation featuring three portraits and a self portrait of the artist, shown on four vertically positioned monitors. The final image is a result of a process achieved in the analogue media order: A 1-minute video of each figure is captured and split into photo sequences (10 / sec). The Individual photo images (app. 700 pieces per minute video per figure) are printed on paper and hand-painted. Each sheet is captured with a animation program and the photo-drawings are reunited in a video file.
- Copyright: Albena Bendji Mihaylova
Albena Bendji Mihaylova
Moonlight, 2017.
Video installation
Details
- Photographer: Albena Bendji Mihaylova
- Material: Cooper plate, video projection
- Width: 35.00 cm Height: 120.00 cm Depth: 4.00 cm
- Property of: Albena Bendji Mihaylova
- Description: Simple game of darkness and light. With minimal means and the help of a subjective mathematical calculation, the artist works with the effect of contemplation. A circle of light moves with the velocity of the moon's movement to the ground on the copper plate, and cover the distance of 1 m and 20 cm for 2, 8 min. Light reveals the copper surface. The rest is in the imagination of the viewer.
- Copyright: Albena Bendji Mihaylova
Albena Bendji Mihaylova
Melting Money, 2017.
Street Art
Details
- Photographer: Velizar Dimchev
- Material: Gas burner, copper coins
- Sizes: The performance was held in two consecutive evenings in front of the gallery Cu29 in the City of Plovdiv, during the exhibition of Albena Bendji Mihailova «1085 °». Duration 30 min.
- Property of: Albena Bendji Mihaylova
- Description: With a sharp statement, but with humor, the performance artist approaches a hot topic. Albena Bendji Mihaylova in special casting and glasses, melted by 1, 2 or 5 cent (usa) coins with a gas burner. The viewers engage in the process by taking their small coin-objects. The "Melted" became a small sculpture and a great experience.
- Copyright: Albena Bendji Mihaylova
Albena Bendji Mihaylova
Untitled, 2017.
Installation
Details
- Photographer: Albena Bendji Mihaylova
- Material: Brass, steel, copper plate, electric motor, car battery
- Width: 60.00 cm Height: 120.00 cm Depth: 25.00 cm
- Property of: Albena Bendji Mihaylova
- Description: Heavy brass head and steel bar - this is a patented graphical tool for easier operation in the mezzotine graphics technology.
At the front is the iron that rags the copper plate.
Human interference consists in a slightly rhythmic swing of a metal bar.
Using a metal arm and a small electric motor for car wipers, that are powered by a car battery, the human movement is simulated. - Copyright: Albena Bendji Mihaylova