Biography
Youlian Tabakov was born in 1975 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
He gratuated in 1994 from NG-Applied Arts
2000 - MA in Set Design – National Academy of Plastic Arts – Sofia, ateliers PhD Valkanov and Prof. Ivanov
2002 – semester in Central St. Martins School of Art and Design in Fine Arts - 3D department
2003 - MA in Fine Art – ENS des Beaux-Arts – Paris, atelier: Fisher, Messager, Dietman
Since 2002 is located in Sweden and Bulgaria and works with visual, performing art and film. He created the set & costume design for over 50 productions in drama, movement & puppet theatre and film in Sweden, Bulgaria, Russia, Lithuania, Switzerland, Germany, and Kenya. He has made illustrations for children books and develops his own visual art and audio-visual projects. Space is a main factor in his work and most of the presentations/exhibitions have separate format for every venue.
Among his notable projects are:
2021 - Portrait of a Dying Titan – series of photographs and objects Rayko Aleksiev Gallery – Sofia
2015 - MOMENTS presented at: 2015 - Rayko Aleksiev Gallery – Sofia, 2017 - CONTEMPORARY SPACE – Varna, 2019 - Ancient Baths – City Gallery of Plovdiv, part of EU Culture Capital Plovdiv 2019
2013 – Tzvetanka, photographs and objects installation, presented at: 2013 - City Art Gallery – Sofia 2014 - CONTEMPORARY SPACE – Varna 2014 - City Art Gallery – Rousse.
2012 – Tzvetanka, creative documentary, part of the official selections of over 20 IFFs such as : Doc Fortnight at MoMA – NIC, DOK Leipzig, CPH:DOX. The film received 13 awards.
2002 - Foot Notes About Beauty, presented at: 2004 The Red House – Sofia, 2005 Giljotin – Stockholm
2001 - Avis Parasidaea
Takes part in numerous group exhibitions in Bulgaria, Sweden, Czechia, Greece, Slovakia, UK and US
Receives awards in film, set & costume design, illustration and fashion.
About
"Youlian Tabakov is one of those rare exceptions in contemporary culture, that fully and exceptionally qualitatively make the connection between certain genres and even types of art. Prominent set designer, artist, illustrator, photographer, film director, costume designer he is a mediator between different cultural backgrounds and audiences with diverse interests.
Not only the energy and originality of his works are impressive, but also the incredible sensitivity that the author has. In 2013 he presented in Sofia City Art Gallery the project "Tsvetanka" - a documentary, footage and objects from the shooting process. Apart from the personal story, loaded with many historical references that make the film universal, the author's attitude to the subject of his interest was evident in all phases and parts of the project - delicate, human, profound and shocking. Youlian Tabakov has a special weakness for that point of human existence where the spiritual and the mortal intersect. This became the core of many of his projects."Moments" is no exception. Dedicated to the grand actress Zlatina Todeva, it becomes an extreme study of the boundary between the earthly and the heavenly, between the flesh and the spirit, between the earthly and the sacred. Youlian Tabakov is trying to overcome many layers of taboos, to enter areas where few dare to peek.
In "Portrait of a Dying Titan", the artist reflects on memory. The main depiction is of infinite burnt sceneries, serves as a symbol of the traces we leave behind us. The author turns the smouldering lands into a portrait of ourselves and our attempt to survive among the ruins left by our own actions. A collection of horns of various animals is presented as a counterpoint. But, can a museum replace what we have already burned to ashes?"
- Maria Vassileva
Gallery
Youlian Tabakov
STILL ALIVE XX, 2007.
Photography
Details
- Material: inkjet on paper
- Width: 132.00 cm Height: 209.00 cm Depth: cm
Youlian Tabakov
Hunter, 2021.
Photography
Details
- Material: inkjet on semi matte photo paper
- Width: 40.00 cm Height: 30.00 cm Depth: cm
- Description: MASCULINITY, series of 20 photographs , ongoing project
Youlian Tabakov
PORTRAIT OF A DYING TITAN (installation view – fragment ), Rayko Aleksiev gallery, 2021.
Installation
Details
- Description: centre:
FOREST
2021
polystyrene, bitumen
550 x 140 x 1000
left:
STILL ALIVE I
2012 – 2021
inkjet on textile on aluminum frame
500 x 1190
right:
STILL ALIVE II
2012 – 2021
inkjet on textile on aluminum frame
500 x 1190
Youlian Tabakov
CICONIA ABDIMII, 2021.
Object
Details
- Material: stuffed Abdim’s stork, cardboard, paper, tape, polystyrene
- Width: 77.00 cm Height: 35.00 cm Depth: 30.00 cm
- Description: MODERN HOUSING 2021, series of 30 objects and 30 photographs
