Theoretical situation
07.09.2021 - 18.09.2021
Martin Penev (b. 1985) is one of the most distinguished artistic figures of his generation. He is very prominent on the Bulgarian art scene – in the period 2016-2018 he realized six solo shows. Notably, he won the BAZA Contemporary Art Award in 2018.
The installation in Structura Gallery is the result of many years of study and conversation bringing together much of the author’s previous research. It does so by its method of expression, use of materials, and via its concentration of energy on the problems of humanity.
It is the immersion into the deep layers of consciousness – that is the main object in most of Martin Penev’s works. He himself says: “Despite the diversity of my work, one can trace a unifying characteristic: my psychological and anthropological interest in man. Regardless of the genre the tendency to work with archetypes, with the unconscious, is gradually becoming apparent. Yes, there is a playful, infantile moment in my work. However, I also use sexuality and sexual tension, unpleasant feelings, anxiety and irony.”
In recent years, Penev has focused on creating individual exhibitions with objects and installations. The characters in them are reminiscent of humans, aliens, mutants, monsters. They are scary and playful at the same time. The often used soft and fluffy materials to further enhance the feeling of something strange – a puppet show for adults, in which the cheerful creature at any moment can become a serial killer. The cartoon characters have come down from the screen and started living among us.
In Structura Gallery, Martin Penev presents the total installation “Theoretical Situation”. The space is filled with objects that create a vague context. Some form of dissection is performed on a six-meter animal body lying in the center. Its entrails do not give clear answers to the observer. The collection of creatures’ heads on the walls creates the atmosphere of a museum. Theatricality, without narrative and performers, leaves the analysis of what is observed only in the hands of the observer.
The installation is part of Martin Penev’s reflection on the methods of perception of the world and the dangers of misinterpreting reality.
The project “Theoretical situation” is supported by the National Fund “Culture”, Creative Initiatives 2020.
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