THE FIFTH EXHIBITION OF BORIS KOVACHEV PRESENTS NEW AQUARAL PAINTINGS AND LEAD DRAWINGS 

 

 

3 DECEMBER 2018

5:00 pm

Balabanov house

57 Konstantin Stoilov Str.

 

About the Author:

Boris Kovachev starts his serious dealing with photography in 2009, out of necessity in his daily professional life – to document and analyze clinical cases, as well for the purposes of his numerous original scientific articles on dental technology, as published in prestigious specialized magazines and newspapers the world over. Once he’s delved deeper into the wonderful art/science, which is photography, Boris remains forever an addict and captive, whilst it gradually grows to be his daily necessity and an inseparable part of his life. The author does not discriminate between modern digital and classical silver-gelatin (film, photo-papers, sheet-materials and DIY-emulsions) work methods. And in the case of the latter he manages to find his own improved implementations for alternative utilization of materials and media.

Between September 2009 and May 2010 Boris Kovachev undergoes intensive practical training in digital image editing and web-design under the tutoring of experienced specialist Mr. Emil Angelov, at the student-training labor cooperative organization “Saglasie”, to the National Commerce Highschool of Plovdiv.

In June 2014 Boris Kovachev successfully completed his two-semester specialization in Photography at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts (AMTII) – Plovdiv, Bulgaria. He is a student of acclaimed masters of photography such as Mr. Dimitar Platnarov (black & white- and fine-art photography), Mr. Metodiy Plachkov (studio-, commercial- and portraiture photography), and consultations with Assoc. Prof. Vasil Nikolov (font, finishing and mounting), Assoc. Prof. Vladimir Genadiev and Mr. Grigor Grigorov (applied graphic techniques in photography).

On October the 9th 2014, after being nominated by Chairman Snezhana Furnadzhieva, the Board of Managers of The Union of Plovdiv Artists reviews Boris’s detailed portfolio and sample original works. Based on that, The Board votes in favor of awarding Full Membership to Boris Kovachev into this prestigious organization, with more than 100 years of rich cultural history and tradition.

In September of 2015 Boris Kovachev started a two-semester specialization in Graphic technology, Classic graphic techniques and Printmaking at the Plovdiv Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts (AMTII) under the legendary Bulgarian Artist and Master Print-maker Assoc. Prof. Vladimir Genadiev – (then) Dean of the Fine Arts Faculty. On June the 16 of 2016 Boris successfully graduated from his specialized educational course in Engraving, Etching and Printmaking, having produced over 20 separate graphic works (of intaglio, relief and stencil processes, alongside many drawings) in two semesters, plus 3 lithographs (by 3 different techniques) in an additional Lithography study module.

As of February 2017 the Author enrolled for a new two-semester specialization in Drawing at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts (AMTII) Plovdiv, under renown artist Assoc.Prof. Magardich Kassapian PhD. On February the 2nd of 2018 Boris successfully completed this educational course, having amassed improved skills in fine-art drawing with graphite, charcoal, pastel and even copper/silver-points, while producing large number of sketches and finished works in the process. 
On September 27-th of 2017 Boris resigned from his membership at the Union of Plovdiv Artists, due to the corrupt conduct and political party affiliation of the organization's governing body, which had lead to lack of transparency and dishonest behavior, with complete absence of objectivity towards its members.   
On February the 10-th 2018 the Author started a two-semester specialization in Pedagogy and Teaching of Fine Arts to acquire a professional degree as a qualified Teacher at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts (AMTII) Plovdiv.
Boris Kovachev has worked extensively in the field of fine-art photography and graphic art, creating memorable original projects – both solo and in cooperation with established artists:

• Sept. 28, 2010 to Oct. 31, 2010 – "& THAT'S PLOVDIV TOO YA'LL" – @Club "Petnoto na Rorshah" and “NyLon”-ArtClub, presenting unusual viewpoints of little known parts of my ancient home-town. 
  
  Nov. 7, 2012 to Nov. 21, 2012 – “THE PHOTOTECHNICIANS OF BULGARIA” – @ Museum centre for modern history of The Regional Historical Museum of Plovdiv, showcasing portraits of all the 16 people who professionally maintain, repair and service photographic cameras and lenses here in Bulgaria. The youngest of those is 25 and the most experienced – a 71 year old gentleman from Plovdiv, who’s still practicing the trade!

• December of 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016 – participated with his original works in the annual invitational joint exhibition “Santa Claus and friends” traditionally organized by Monika Romenska – artist and curator of Permanent Exhibition "Mexican Art"- Old Plovdiv.

• Jan. 4 to 25, 2013 – participated with his cycle 14 Large-format Photograms on Expired X-ray film (30x40cm. sheets) entitled “X-rays of a Malicious Intent” in a joint exhibition, alongside the talented Bulgarian Artist Dimitar Mehandjiyski and the U.S.-born artist Jeffrey Doonan. The show took place at the Galerie Zeitzone, in Berlin, Germany.
  
  May 18 to June 24, 2013 – “Totally Analogue” – joint exhibition by Dimitar Mehandzhiysky – Artist & Boris Kovachev – NONphotographer at the Museum center for contemporary history - No.14 Angel Bukoreshtliev Str. Plovdiv, Bulgaria. A display of alternative and fully-analogue methods in painting and photography, accompanied by practical demonstrations by the authors themselves ~ Large-format pinhole photographs (negatives) a DIY large-format Camera Obscura and Photograms by Boris Kovachev; Paintings utilizing graffiti- and combined techniques by Dimitar Mehandzhiysky. This show is made possible with the generous support and partnership of the Regional History Museum of Plovdiv, as part of the 36-th International Museum Day - a global event by The International Council Оf Museums (ICOM).

• 
  Sept. 20 to Oct. 4, 2013 – “Big Bro (BACHO)” – a joint exhibition by Boris Kovachev – NONphotographer and the legendary Plovdiv-based sculptor, artist & master wood-carver Rangel Sroilov – Bacho at the Museum Center for Bulgarian renaissance – Old Town, Plovidv, Bulgaria – Showing 12 prints on canvas (50x50cm) of black&white portraits of the world famous sculptor Rangel “Bacho” Stoilov in his atelier, as photographed by Boris Kovachev, on medium format negatives. Said negatives were also displayed, properly backlit alongside 12 bronze plastic sculptures made by the virtuoso hands of Maeastro Stoilov. The gala-opening and premiere night of the display was part of the official program in the Ninth Annual Autumn Night of Museums and Galleries in Plovdiv.

• August 15 to 29, 2014 – “Urban Landscapes in Sheet-film Print and Gum Bichromate” – a solo art photo exhibition by Boris Kovachev at Gallery “Plovdiv” (Plovdiv Municipal Council building), in partnership with the Union of Plovdiv Artists and under the auspices of Mr. Dimitar Atanasov – Ombudsman to the Municipality of Plovidv. Utilizing two interesting visual media - technical sheet film and the 19th century process of gum-bichromate, the author examined what does "urban landscape" mean to a nowadays photographer and artist.

• Dec. 12 of 2014 to Jan. 27, 2015 – participated in the traditional Christmas Annual Joint Exhibition by the Union of Plovdiv Artists, opened to submission by UPA-members only. Displayed two 50x40 sheet-film prints on 30-year-old East-German ORWO plates.

• Jan. 22 to Feb. 30 of 2015 – participated in the joint exhibition “Pulse”, based on the original mixed media live-art performance of the same name. Displayed 4 colour photographic prints on canvas.

• May 4 to 19 of 2015 – participated in the Union of Plovdiv Artists joint youth art exhibition “Ritual” at the UPA grand exhibition hall – 32 William E. Gladstone Str. Plovdiv, Bulgaria, as curated by Nikola Minchev. Displayed two mixed technique exhibits of manual photographic transfer into the structure of 30x50cm spruce wood blanks, combined with hand-carved elements into the base material itself. TITLES:
  "Ritual:Creation" - 4m x 30cm (8-piece solid wood, metal joints);
  "Ritual:Family" - 50cm x 60cm (diptych, solid wood, metal joints).

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• Sept.15 to Oct. 4 of 2015 – participated in the traditional annual joint art exhibition “15x5” by the Union of Plovdiv Artists at the UPA grand exhibition hall – 32 William E. Gladstone Str. Plovdiv, Bulgaria, as curated by Hristo Zhekov. Displayed original 5 participation pieces on the subject of the nude female form – each oh those #1/1, 100x130cm, photographic collage on small pieces assembly of silver-gelatin paper, finished via brush - with drawing ink and acrylic, sealed with water-based lacquer.

• Nov.5 to Dec.30 of 2015 – participated in the Fifth International Biennale of miniature art forms by the Ruse Art Gallery and Municipality of the city of Ruse, Bulgaria: “Pentimento, the art of correcting one's self”.

• Dec.3 of 2015 to Jan.30 of 2016 – participated in the traditional annual members representative exhibition of the Union of Plovdiv Artists issue'2015 with two one-off original author's relief prints (engravings) over gum-bichromate backgrounds.

• Dec.7 of 2016 to Jan.25 of 2017 – participated in the traditional annual members representative exhibition of the Union of Plovdiv Artists issue'2016 with:
  - "Simpy wood" engraving/carving into spruce wood assembly of planks 50x50x2,5cm with inked raised surfaces, protection lacquer coated, binding with 6 mm thick accessory climbing cord;
  - "Suicide of an egg" a small plastic sculpture 6,5x5x8cm of marble, Ni-Cr alloy, steel, feldspar ceramic coating, on wood base/foundation.

• April the 6-th to May the 4-th of 2017 – participated in the traditional annual joint art exhibition “Colors” by the Union of Plovdiv Artists at the UPA grand exhibition hall – 32 William E. Gladstone Str. Plovdiv, Bulgaria, with two color relief-print graphic works (off' cork plates). Titles "Construction" and "Deconstruction" - 25x35cm each.

• September 12-th to 26-th of 2017 - participated in the traditional annual joint art exhibition “15x5” by the Union of Plovdiv Artists at the UPA grand exhibition hall – 32 William E. Gladstone Str. Plovdiv, Bulgaria, as curated by Hristo Zhekov. The Author displayed 5 original Graphic Art limited edition prints. Titles: "Dorsal self-portrait" 50x35cm woodcut, "The Negative" 56x21cm woodcut, "Bathroom sink" 25x35cm Lithograph, "Drinking fountain"  25x35cm Lithograph and "Toilet" 35x25cm Lithograph.

• September 28th of 2017 to WHO GIVES A F@CK - The Author is ashamed to have participated in a disgraceful spectacle, which tried to pass itself off as a "National graphic art competition", a "biennial" even if you will, premiering on Sept. the 28-th of 2017 in the town of Pazardjik. Boris took part in this butchery of art, by the so called "UNION OF BULGARIAN ARTISTS", with two dual-layer-reduction-relief-prints 60x40cm done entirely by hand. The works in question represented the late Georgi Gerasimoff, who allegedly was the patron/cause of/for the event, where these two portraits of him were intentionally shoved at the far end of the inner most exhibition hall, behind a solid wall, so as to be seen by as few people as possible and to raise even fewer questions.

• Sept. 15th to 29th of 2017 - Boris Kovachev conducted a joint Graphic Art Exhibition with his Drawing teacher from the Academy of Music Dance and Fine Arts - Prof. Magardich Kassapian PhD. The show took place at the Museum Center for Contemporary History to the Regional History Museum of Plovdiv, №14 Angel Bukoreshtliev Str. in the city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. It premiered on Sept. the 15th of 2017, as an official part of the Plovdiv Night of Museums and Galleries 10th annual issue, traditionally organised by the Open Arts Foundation. Presiding speaker of the opening ceremony was legendary Bulgarian graphic artists and teacher in engraving/etching/printmaking to Boris Kovachev - Assoc.Prof. Vladimir Genadiev. During the premiere evening of the show both Authors took turns in live printing of engravings, which they'd made especially for the occasion, on Boris Kovachev's own etching press - transported and set'up at the museum hall for the event. As a part of the opening evening two written bodies of work by Prof.Kassapian were presented to the public for the first time - books titled “Graphic Antitheses” dedicated to Prof. Gazdov’s creative work, and “Techniques and Materials Used in Students’ Training in Graphics”. 

• 
  May the 18-th to July 6-th of 2018 - Boris Kovachev conducted his first Paintings and Drawings Art Exhibition. The show took place at the Comma' Gallery&Studio - №18 Zagreb Str (Kapana) in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Despite being a fine-art photographer and printmaker/graphic-artist, the Author took this creative detour in order to produce and display acrylic paintings on DiY canvases, made from Boris' own worn'out jeans, and large scale oil pastel drawings on gessod' paper. This exhibition was also included in the official events list of the 2018 Spring Festival "Kapana Fest", accompanied with excellent attendance and atmosphere. The displayassortment was finished by 5 large-scale silver-gelatin photographiccollages (each of them 100x130cm), which the Author had exhibited preciously.   
   

Photographic images by Boris Kovachev have also been published in printed editions of the periodical press as well as books – with text/stories by both the Author and others writers. Among those were:
“The History of Jon Bluming” ISBN 978-3-927553-25-5 EWTO-Verlag May 2015 Copyright by Keith R. Kernspecht; “Trud” national daily newspaper of September 9th 2013 ISSN 1313-7719 pages 20-21.

http://borise.wixsite.com/arts?fbclid=IwAR2CSeqmq9M4AjIIxpBhqEKzG4klSrWuvXa7uV7ENaNr3Px3eWeyqRx4h_k