Something Monumental
We were tasked with coming up with a way to present the behind-the-scenes of the legacy of five of Plovdiv’s most legendary artists as part of The Monumentals, an exhibition curated by Svetlana Kuyumdzhieva.
Known as the “Plovdiv Five” and as the “Magnificent Ones”, Georgi Bozhilov – Slona (The Elephant), Dimitar Kirov, Yoan Leviev, Hristo Stefanov and Encho Pironkov are the brightest heroes of the period of the 1960s and 1970s. It is largely thanks to the “Five” that Plovdiv came to be recognised as a center of monumental art.
Ivan Vazov Regional Public Library
Brochures & Flyers
Brochures & Flyers
Space Branding
Space Branding
Exhibition Design
Exhibition Design
When you think of monumental art, you don’t think about all the effort and hard work behind it; all you see is the final art. We wanted to hint at their enormous work by delving into the backbone of monumental art – the way it is built. One word came to our mind. Scaffolding. Most of these artists had to know how to behave on one, since it was their studio per diem.
That’s why we incorporated a real-life scaffolding in the show. Doing so, we managed to create extra exhibition space, solving the problem of how to portray their art in a worthy, authentic way.
But the works of these five legendary artists are more or less a reflection of the themes, trends and general politics of their time. At the same time, they express these artists’ sincere desire to leave a lasting trace in the city, just as the city has been imprinted in their art.
As the curator says: “Their scope, taste and creative vision continue to define Plovdiv’s urban environment to this day. The mark left by the five is heavy and massive like an elephant’s footprint, and beautiful like a dove’s wing – just as important to Plovdiv as the National Revival woodcarvings and icons and the ancient steps and columns – yet at the same time fragile and fleeting.”
