Biography
Art in Action Association is a nongovernmental organization established in April 1990 in Sofia. The founders are: Orlin Dvorianov and Dobrin Peichev (“DE” Group), Daniela Nenova and Alexander Pozharliev (“Performance” Group), Viara Grancharova and Veliko Sherbanov (“Kukuvden” Group), Dimitar Grozdanov (“Dobrudja” Group), Albena Mihailova (“RUB” Group), Viacheslav Botev (“Hermes Group”) and Diana Popova. The main objective set in the charter of the association is ‘To assist with its activities in the establishment of a Contemporary Art Centre in Bulgaria.’ Association activities: Organizing and participating in exhibitions, performances, festivals, symposia, multimedia performances, publishing and advertising materials for contemporary art.
Current, active participants since 2000: Orlin Dvorianov, Lyubomir Velev, Antonia Duende, Maya Antova-Mayoto, Kalin Plugchiev, Stella Inchovska, Liliana Dvoryanova, Dobrin Atanasov, Ivan Yamaliev, Georgi Yamaliev, Desislava Tsoneva-Chumma.
Important events since 2000:
- 2016 – “From the distance of time” – exhibition of the ‘Kukuv den’ and ‘DE’ groups, curator: Orlin Dvorianov. The first event of the project entitled “The Other Art of Sofia”, realized by the Art in Action Association in partnership with the Centre for Informal Education and Cultural Activities ALOS (Sofia Arsenal – Museum for Contemporary Art, Sofia, Bulgaria)
- 2015 – “25 Artists’ Art Alternatives” – exhibition that marks the 25th anniversary of the Art in Action Association, include artworks of more than 30 authors working with “Art in Action” through the years (Sofia Arsenal – Museum for Contemporary Art, Sofia, Bulgaria)
- 2012 – “Aporia of the Closeness 2” & “Allegro Piu non troppo 4” – performances in the frame of International performance festival (“PAD-Performance Art Depot” Gallery, Mainz, Germany)
- 2011 – “Dehumanization” – group exhibition (Bulgarian Cultural Centre, Bratislava, Slovakia)
- 2010 – “Allegro piu non troppo” – a performance in the frame of the International Performance Festival Blauverschiebung N03, Leipzig, Germany
- 2008 – “Break Outs” – group exhibition (Motorenhalle gallery, Dresden, Germany)
- 2007 – “Don Quixote” – an installation and two performances in the frame of Arte e Vita International Art Symposium, Bard and Zingst, Germany
- 2002 – “Down by the River” – a performance in the frame of International Student Festival of Absurd Theatre "Eugene Ionescu", Bucharest, Romania
- 2001 – “Art in Action” – an exhibition (Arsenal Gallery, Poznan, Poland)
About
Over the years, the activities of Art in Action Association involved various Bulgarian artists like: Kliment Atanasov, Alexandar Ivanov, Nikolai Ivanov (“OM” group), Emil Valev, Ventsislav Zankov, Alexander Raikov, Georgi Ruzjev, Irena Mitova, Niya Pushkarova, Boris Serginov, Gabriela Serginova, Vasa Slavova and many others.
The active participation of these authors led to the realization of the following projects:
- "Fluxus 1962-1994" Retrospective representation of the "FLUXSUS" together with Ben Patterson, organized by Goethe Institute with curator Gabrielle Knabstein (Sofia, Bulgaria, 1998)
- A presentation of Bulgarian Performance in Krakow (Poland, 1997) - They don't want to talk... – a performance in the frame of the EASTERN EUROPE ZONE festival (Timisoara, Romania, 1996)
- Sofia Sends Greetings to Berlin festival (Bulgarian Cultural Center, Atrium Centre, Berlin, Germany, 1993)
- ART HERO landart festival, organized together with the KA Gallery (Burgas, Bulgaria, 1990-1993)
- “Creation” and “1aaa” – two happenings, organized by Art in Action (Sofia, Bulgaria, 1991)
Gallery
Art in Action Association
25 artists' art alternatives, 2015.
Installation
Details
- Sizes: Exhibition that marks the 25th anniversary of the Art in Action Association, realized in Sofia Arsenal - Museum of Contemporary Art
- Property of: Art in Action Association
- Description: 25 artists' art alternatives
Exhibition of Art in Action Association
Curator: Orlin Dvoryanov
October 22 – December 06, 2015
Sofia Arsenal - Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMCA), National Gallery
“25 artists' art alternatives” is an exhibition that marks the 25th anniversary of the Art in Action Association. The exhibition present more than 30 authors and documentation of artistic and educational projects of the association in its 25-year activity.
Along with installations and conceptual works created especially for the exhibition, the exposition includes documentary photographs, prints and videos of the association’s main activities such as: participation in international and Bulgarian festivals for contemporary art, exhibitions, art actions, performances, cultural and educational projects, held in Bulgaria and abroad.
Exhibition participants:
Antonia Duende, Biliyana Parvanova, Boris Serginov, Boyan Bahrin, Ventsislava Stoyanova, Vyara Grancharova, Georgi Ruzhev, Georgi Yamaliev, Desislava Tsoneva-Chumma, Dobrin Atanassov, Dobrin Peychev, Ivan Yamaliev, Ivo Dimitrov, Kalin Plugchiev, Kliment Atanassov, Liliana Dvoryanova, Louise Schroder, Lyuba Dimitrova, Lyuben Kuleliev, Lyubomir Velev, Maya Antova-Mayoto, Marina Stoyanova, Maya Zhalova, Milena Bankovska, Monika Mihaylova, Nickolay Ivanov, Niya Pushkarova, Orlin Dvorianov, Svetoslav Bitrakov, Stella Inchovska, Yuliya Lazarkova. - Copyright: Art in Action Association
Art in Action Association
“Break Outs”, group exhibition, 2008.
Installation
Details
- Sizes: Artists from "Art in Action" exhibition, featuring installations, prints, video art, performances
- Property of: Art in Action Association
- Description: Exhibition and Performances “Break Outs” at the Motorenhalle Gallery /Part of BROD - Days of Young Bulgarian Culture project /Dresden, Germany/. Curator of the project - Desislava Tsoneva-Chuma.
The exhibition includes:
• Performance by Ivan Yamaliev,
• Performance by Maya Antova-Mayoto
• Installations by Georgi Yamaliev, Lyuben Kulleiev, Stella Inchovska, Dobrin Atanasov, Orlin Dvorianov, Liliana Dvoryanova, Antonia Duende, Desislava Georgieva, Maria Vrazhilska. - Copyright: Art in Action Association
Art in Action Association
AREAS-AUTHORS-CONCEPTS project, 2005.
Action
Details
- Sizes: 6 actions in 5 cities in Bulgaria
- Property of: Art in Action Association
- Description: AREAS-AUTHORS-CONCEPTS project.
Actions in different factories in the cities: Kazanlak, Kyustendil, Lovech, Yambol, Sofia, organized by the Art in Action Association in the period 2005-2008.
The concept of the project is related to the parallel work of contemporary artists and workers in the factories. Actions, performances and installations are created by the artists from “Art in Action Association” while the real production process is running. The intention is workers to feel that making art and their routine daily work have common principles to implement. As a result of the projects, 6 videos, a catalog and numerous photographs were created.
“Factory for Princesses” – textile factory, Kazanlak, Bulgaria /april, 2005/
“Soft Materials” – textile factory, Kyustendil, Bulgaria /august, 2006/
“Meanings and Signs” – Devetaki cave and various factories in the municipality of Lovech, Bulgaria /may, 2006/
“Lost Dialogue” – furniture factory, Yambol, Bulgaria /april, 2006/
“Bulgarian National TV” – the studio of Bulgarian National Television, Sofia, Bulgaria /from february to april, 2008/ - Copyright: Art in Action Association
Art in Action Association
“2aaa” project, 1999.
Action
Details
- Sizes: 14 exhibitions realized in 3 years in 8 different cities in Bulgaria.
- Property of: Art in Action Association
- Description: The “2aaa” project is initiated by 10 young artists supported by Art in Action Association. For each of the 14 exhibitions, the main participants invite two guest artists. Exhibitions include installations, photo installations, live performances, video projections. The concept of the project is based on the idea of an active creative start for the young authors, who express their intention to turn the country into their gallery. At the end of the project a catalog was printed, funded by the “SOROS” and “PRO Helvetia” foundations, representing the ten main participants.
- Copyright: Art in Action Association