Biography
Vitto Valentinov was born in 1977 in Sofia, Bulgaria where he lives and works. He works in the field of installation and participatory art. Vitto studied mural painting at the National Academy of Arts, Sofia, (1997-1999), after which he graduated from the AKI Academy for Art & Design (1999-2004), and DAI-Dutch Art Institute (2004-2006) in Enschede, the Netherlands. In 2006 he made his film debut with the short film „Falling on the Fovea”, a joint project accomplished with Kristina Yanachkova, which participated in „The Projection Project” exhibition at the MuHKA Museum of Contemporary Art in Antwerp. That same year Vitto returned to Bulgaria and specialized in film directing at the National Academy of Theater and Film Arts (2007-2009). He has numerous exhibitions in galleries, museums and festivals, including Biennale de Kunstvlaai 2006, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Sofia Design Week 2012, Bulgaria; Contempo - International Art Festival 2014, Varna, Bulgaria; TEDxBG 2014, Sofia, Bulgaria; Space SSEE Gallery, Daejeon, South Korea; CEC Artslink Residency Program in New York and Cincinnati, USA; ICA- Institute of Contemporary Art, Sofia, Bulgaria; SAMCA Sofia Arsenal - Museum of Contemporary Art, Bulgaria; Sofia City Art Gallery, Bulgaria; Sariev Gallery, Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Goethe - Institute, Sofia, Bulgaria; The New New - Art Science Tech Festival, Thessaloniki, Greece and Vienna Contemporary 2015 - Focus Bulgaria, Vienna, Austria.
About
The main object of observation in my artwork is the human body. I am interested in the body and its various aspects: physical, mental, philosophical, social and existential. In many of my body related installations I’ve often used different materials and approaches, however, since 2013 I started to engage the audience of my exhibitions to participate in the projects. From that moment on the body of the participant becomes the main material and, at the same time, the subject of the work. People get involved in a kind of experiment, which requires minimal physical activity but full body and mind concentration. I ask the participants to do a simple gesture, kind of minimalistic moves. Therefore, they can become a part of creative event - an artistic ritual. I am interested in creating conditions so that people can experiment with themselves. My participatory installations are produced to function as communication tools.
- Vitto Valentinov
Gallery
Vitto Valentinov
Balance, 2014.
Installation
Details
- Photographer: Justin Hodges
- Material: laboratory scale, plexiglas, metal, silver paper, wood, video camera, TV monitor, black/white photographs
- Sizes: dimensions variable
- Property of: Vitto Valentinov
- Description: In BALANCE two participants sit from the two sides of a very sensitive lab scale and follow instructions. Zoomed camera shows the close up of the action to the audience. Participants’ goal is to maintain the balance between one another and keep it as long as they can. Thus, BALANCE aims for a dialog.
- Copyright: Vitto Valentinov
- References: Installation art, Participatory art, Performance - Installation, Site-Specific, Interactive Art, Performative body, Sculpture as Action
Vitto Valentinov
Contact, 2015.
Installation
Details
- Photographer: Yana Lozeva
- Material: handheld pumps, parts from stethoscope, fishing lines, metal pipes, flask, gloves
- Sizes: dimensions variable
- Property of: Vitto Valentinov
- Description: After MITOSIS and BALANCE, CONTACT is the third project from a series of participatory installations, in which the body of the participant is an object of “exploration”.
CONTACT was created for the exhibition Space - Audience at Sofia Arsenal - Museum for Contemporary Art in Sofia.
In CONTACT two participants are positioned eight meters apart from each other. Participant A follows instructions about his/her breathing. By using small handheld pumps, he/she sends signals relevant to his/her inhalation and exhalation, which pass via an “apparatus” to Participant B. With closed eyes the second participant receives the signals on headphones. Participant B explores the body of participant A, while Participant A, like an astronaut, creates a connection through distance. - Copyright: Vitto Valentinov
- References: Installation art, Participatory art, Performance - Installation, Site-Specific, Interactive Art, Performative body, Sculpture as Action,
Vitto Valentinov
Contact, 2015.
Installation
Details
- Photographer: Yana Lozeva
- Material: handheld pumps, parts from stethoscope, fishing lines, metal pipes, flask, gloves
- Sizes: dimensions variable
- Property of: Vitto Valentinov
- Description: After MITOSIS and BALANCE, CONTACT is the third project from a series of participatory installations, in which the body of the participant is an object of “exploration”.
CONTACT was created for the exhibition Space - Audience at Sofia Arsenal - Museum for Contemporary Art in Sofia.
In CONTACT two participants are positioned eight meters apart from each other. Participant A follows instructions about his/her breathing. By using small handheld pumps, he/she sends signals relevant to his/her inhalation and exhalation, which pass via an “apparatus” to Participant B. With closed eyes the second participant receives the signals on headphones. Participant B explores the body of participant A, while Participant A, like an astronaut, creates a connection through distance. - Copyright: Vitto Valentinov
- References: Installation art, Participatory art, Performance - Installation, Site-Specific, Interactive Art, Performative body, Sculpture as Action,
Vitto Valentinov
MAPS, 2018.
Installation
Details
- Photographer: Kevork Vanlyan
- Material: metal, wood, paper, markers
- Sizes: dimensions variable
- Property of: Vitto Valentinov
- Description: In MAPS visitors are invited to participate in simple, playful activities within two distinct zones designed for face-to-face interaction. There, they have the opportunity to connect, cross boundaries and attempt synchronization. The core of the experiment is for the participants to become simultaneously acquainted with one another; as an act of solidarity and equality. In these ritualistic games, mapping is a form of observation and acceptance of each other, while the boundaries create connections rather than separation.
MAPS was created for the exhibition Alter me, Alter you at Goethe – Insitute Bulgaria in Sofia.
In MAPS 1 two participants sit across each other and follow instructions. Participant A puts his left hand with spread fingers to the left hand of Participant B in the middle of the table, as shown in the illustration.The two participants outline the contour of the partner's hand from the outside to the inside. The goal is to achieve sync during contour outline.
In MAPS 2 two participants stand facing each other and follow instructions. Participant A puts his left hand with his fingers spread to the left hand of Participant B in the middle above the roll of paper as shown in the illustration. The two participants outline the contour of the partner's hand from the outside to the inside. The goal is to achieve sync during contour outline. - Copyright: Vitto Valentinov
- References: Installation art, Participatory art, Performance - Installation, Site-Specific, Interactive Art, Performative body, Sculpture as Action
Vitto Valentinov
MAPS, 2018.
Installation
Details
- Photographer: Kevork Vanlyan
- Material: metal, wood, paper, markers
- Sizes: dimensions variable
- Property of: Vitto Valentinov
- Description: In MAPS visitors are invited to participate in simple, playful activities within two distinct zones designed for face-to-face interaction. There, they have the opportunity to connect, cross boundaries and attempt synchronization. The core of the experiment is for the participants to become simultaneously acquainted with one another; as an act of solidarity and equality. In these ritualistic games, mapping is a form of observation and acceptance of each other, while the boundaries create connections rather than separation.
MAPS was created for the exhibition Alter me, Alter you at Goethe – Insitute Bulgaria in Sofia.
In MAPS 1 two participants sit across each other and follow instructions. Participant A puts his left hand with spread fingers to the left hand of Participant B in the middle of the table, as shown in the illustration.The two participants outline the contour of the partner's hand from the outside to the inside. The goal is to achieve sync during contour outline.
In MAPS 2 two participants stand facing each other and follow instructions. Participant A puts his left hand with his fingers spread to the left hand of Participant B in the middle above the roll of paper as shown in the illustration. The two participants outline the contour of the partner's hand from the outside to the inside. The goal is to achieve sync during contour outline. - Copyright: Vitto Valentinov
- References: Installation art, Participatory art, Performance - Installation, Site-Specific, Interactive Art, Performative body, Sculpture as Action