Alexander Valchev
New Life, 2016
Goethe Institute, Sofia
10 December 2015 – 30 January 2016
When I was invited to hold an exhibition at the Goethe Institute, I started reflecting on a principle I have always believed in—that an exhibition should be connected in some way to the place where it is presented. In this case, to the institution itself, and by extension, to the country it represents, but also to its relationship with our country and the present moment.
At that time, there was a lot of controversy surrounding the wall being built on our southern border, and this provoked me. I couldn’t help but think of the Berlin Wall. We tore one down, and now we are building another. This evoked in me a persistent sense of déjà vu—repetitive actions, situations, and stories with a predetermined outcome, happening in the world, in Bulgaria, and in our personal lives.
This brought to the surface a theme that has preoccupied me for years: Construction – Deconstruction. Initially, I saw this phrase purely in sculptural terms, developing it through a series of works under the same name. It was about the transition between dimensions in space—moving from two-dimensional to three-dimensional forms. Later, I began to consider the social aspects embedded in these two words.
Why do we keep repeating the same mistakes? Why do we reject and destroy what was built before us, only to create something new, which in turn is likely to be dismantled? Do we not learn from our mistakes? Is it not possible to build upon what exists instead of tearing it down?
Meanwhile, things evolved. I was unable to realize a video piece that was meant to be central to the exhibition. At the same time, the refugee crisis escalated. I faced a serious dilemma—should I completely change my idea, or should I strengthen the direction I had already chosen? In one case, I risked being accused of seeking approval and trying to be “trendy,” while in the other, I would once again have to give up my ability to sense pressing issues before they became clichés and mere statistics.
Then, the idea that tied everything together came to me: NEW LIFE!
Everything lies in this—the dream of a peaceful and secure life. Each of us is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it. To endure trials and overcome hardships in the hope of escaping problems, leaving the past behind, starting fresh, and proving ourselves. And when we finally reach the long-dreamed-of world, we become willing to make compromises, to forget our principles and ideals just to hold on to it—because we have already crossed to the other side of the wall.
Alexander Valchev
New Life (2015) at the Goethe Institute
New Life (2015) at the Goethe Institute