Biography
Dr. Galentin Gatev is a dermatovenereologist, known as a collector since the late 80's among the emerging unconventional art in Bulgaria and gained popularity in the 90's as an artist and initiator of non-traditional curatorial projects, described by art critic Ruen Ruenov as " situational transgression."
It is the exhibition "Dermatology? Art", which took place in the Clinic of Dermatology of the Medical Academy, that put Dr. Gatev into the public life of the art scene. The non-gallery situation of “Dermatology? Art" brought together dermatological wax models, boards and photographs representing various diseases, in parallel with the works of Bozhidar Boyadzhiev, Lyuben Kostov, the group "The Owl's Popara "with the main figure Georgi Ruzhev, Hristo Mihaylov and Nedko Solakov. And the accompanying brochure, on the one hand, presents the authors, while, on the other, is an advertisement for the acne remedy Retin-A.
In the same year, Dr. Gatev made the action "In Defense of Solid Material", where he changed the technological process of the company "Metal Processing and Dental Production" AD in Botevgrad, replacing the metal with the so-called hard material - wood. Each manufactured part is accompanied by a certificate, and the process is supported by a legal agreement, where: The parties agree to unite their activities to achieve a common goal, which is to develop joint activities related to the promotion and development of artistic, cultural and aesthetic needs and criteria for those working in "Metalworking and dental production" AD".
In 1995, Dr. Gatev realized many artistic actions and interventions, including performance, object, installation, artifact, serving as evidence for the event, and conducting them in public or non-traditional spaces implied a special kind of relationship between author and audience. Some of them are "Forge Me As Many Horseshoes As You Can", "A Carriage Worthy oF Special Note", "Hidden Three-Dimensional".
He has participated in the European biennale Manifesta 2 in Luxembourg in 1998 with the installation "Motor engines for regional purposes. Testimony”, which traces the daily travels and obstacles of four priests in the Botevgrad region. In 2011 he became the winner of the "Iron Order for Contemporary Art" named after Ventsislav Zankov.
After his exceptional intervention in the Bulgarian contemporary art scene, Dr. Gatev periodically continues to take part in the artistic life realising his artistic ideas. Some of his subsequent exhibitions are "Paintings on the Walls" (2012) at the Academy Gallery, "Waiting for the Unit" (2017), Goethe Institute, among others. In 2020 he realized the two consecutive exhibitions curated by Yovo Panchev "This is it", gallery "Rayko Aleksiev", and "This is me", Square 500.
Gallery
Dr. Gatev
A Carriage Worthy of Special Notice, 1995.
Site-specific
Details
- Property of: http://drgatev.com/
Dr. Gatev
Motore engines with a regional purpose, 1998.
Video installation
Details
- Property of: http://drgatev.com/
