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Global World

Sofia Paper Art Fest 2019

16 April – 26 May

This edition

The ninth edition of the festival focuses on the global developments in art and how they affect the society in Europe. The successful editions so far rank the SPAF among Bulgaria's rare emblematic festivals. The presentation of Bulgaria's cultural heritage, combined with contemporary art from different parts of the world, shows the Bulgaria's European face and the possibility to communicate with the world.


A special priority for 2019 is to establish links and relationships with the European culture and art, as well as to build "cultural bridges" to Bulgarian artists abroad. Bulgarian artists living in Europe, Latin America and North America participate in the event, while exhibitions dedicated to Argentina and Brazil introduce us to contemporary paper art in these countries, which are home to large Bulgarian communities.


The travelling formats with exhibitions, films, lectures and presentations, in the second half of the year, in Japan, China and Argentina, which present Bulgaria and the achievements of the SPAF, also play key role.

Amateras exhibition

For the eleventh consecutive year, the Amateras Annual Exhibition/Competition for Paper Art took place, an exhibition bearing the name of the foundation and giving birth to the idea of the festival. The event was held at the National Palace of Culture, Semi-floor West, between 2 May and 12 May. 71 artists from 25 countries were selected in the competition!


Jury:
Abd Masoud, Austria
Iliana Kitanova, Bulgaria
Todor Todorov, Bulgaria


Awards:
Amateras Grand Prix: Irene Rammensee
Prize for Innovation: Jeannine De Raeymaecker
Prize for Bulgarian Artist: Nelly Sandeva
Certificate for Art on Paper: Eva Toker
Certificate for Honorable Mention: Josefa Gal, Florence Pinson-Ynden, Hanne Frey Huso.
The selected artists in the 2019 competition are:
Argentina: Silvana Blasbalg, Eva Sofia Toker, Leticia Burgos;
Austria: Elmar Peintner;
Austria/Jordan: Abd A. Masoud;
Belgium: Jeannine De Raeymaecker;
Brazil: Eliana Anghinah;
Bulgaria: Antonia Duende, Atanas Michalchev, Anelia Alexandrova, Anelia Nikolova, Alexandra Dimitrova, Denis Rusev, Eva Handjieba, Galina Dokova, Iveta Chelebieva, Krasimira Drenska, Laura Dimitrova, Michaela Pudeva, Nelly Sandeva, Pavlina Kopano, Lilia Evtimova, Tsveta Petrova, Тina Zlatina, Tatiana Karamalakova, Veska Abad, Veselka Nikolova;
Colombia: Miriam Londono;
Finland: Anna - Maija Bergman;
France: Bruno David, Florence Pinson-Ynden;
Germany: Elinor Euler, Elke Lueckener, Fides Linien, Gesa Reuter, Irene Rammensee, Josephine Tabbert, Larrisa Nod, Mari Schirrmacher – Meitz, Peter Schlangenbader, Renate Schweizer, Verena Friedrich, Wilhelm Schramm;
Hungary: Ester Bornemisza;
Israel: Josefa Gal, Laura Behar;
Japan: Atsumi Murata, Nobuko Ueda, Noriko Amano, Tsuruko Tanikawa, Wakako Inshisomne, Sumie Matsuura;
Lithuania: Jura Vaskevichiute;
Mexico: Josefina Temin;
Norway: Hanne Frey Huso;
The Netherlands: Marielle van den Bergh;
Poland: Magdalena Klezynska, Miroslawa Truchta-Nowicka, Monika Mazurkiewicz;
Romania: Adriana Lucaciu;
Russia: Irina Jablochkina;
Slovenia: Metka Pepelnak;
Scotland: Charmian Pollok, Jenny Smith;
Switzerland: Elisabeth Jobin-Sanglard, Gerda Ritzman, Lilo Shaer, Marie-Louise Glinz;
UK: Josephine Coy, Jane Walker;
USA: Marie Noorani;

The program

Exhibitions:
“Ten Artists. Ten Visions”, paper art from Brazil, Sana Stefano Gallery, main hall (16 April – 8 May);
“The Collection II”, solo exhibition of Jo McDonald, awarded artist in Amateras competition 2018, ONE Gallery, (18 April – 12 May);
“Japan Now”, paper art from Japan, Mazda Gallery (23 April – 22 May);
“Global World”, Amateras Exhibition/Competition for Paper Art, National Palace of Culture, West foyer (2 May – 12 May);
“After Midnight, Before Sunrise”, solo exhibition of Martina Karaivanova, prize for Bulgarian artist 2018, National Palace of Culture, Center foyer, III floor (2 May – 12 May);
“Eastern Rhythms”, contemporary paper art from Indonesia, Regional History Museum – Sofia, Triangular Tower (3 May – 26 May);
“Impressions from Argentina”, paper art from Argentina, San Stefano Gallery, hall for contemporary art (8 May – 22 May);
“Letters to Myself”, solo exhibition of Tsveta Petrova, award for Bulgarian artist in Amateras competition 2017, San Stefano Gallery, hall for contemporary art (8 May – 22 May).


Accompanying events:
Workshop for Arabic Calligraphy by Abd Masoud, director of Vienna Calligraphy Center, National Palace of Culture (4 May);
Japan Bowl, competition for Japanese language and culture, Regional History Museum – Sofia, Triangular Tower (11 May);
Festival Brunch, discussion about smart tourism in the cities, Regional History Museum – Sofia, Triangular Tower (12 May);
European Night of Museums (18 May).

Participants

Amateras Foundation thanks to all participants who played a role in the Sofia Paper Art Fest 2019!


In “Global World”, SPAF 2019, 114 artists from 27 countries participated:
Argentina: Alejanda Koreck, Isabel Barbuzza, Leonardo Gottlieb, Silvana Blasbalg, Eva Sofia Toker, Leticia Burgos;
Austria: Elmar Peintner;
Austria/Jordan: Abd A. Masoud;
Belgium: Jeannine De Raeymaecker;
Brazil: Eliana Anghinah, Angela Barbour, Catharina Suleiman, Cildo Oliveira, Eliana Anghinah, Hugo Fortes, Jacqueline Aronis, Nori Figueiredo, Patricia Figueiredo, Regina Carmona and Rodrigo Lobo;
Bulgaria: Antonia Duende, Atanas Michaltchev, Anelia Alexandrova, Anelia Nikolova, Alexandra Dimitrova, Denis Rusev, Eva Handjieba, Galina Dokova, Iveta Chelebieva, Krasimira Drenska, Laura Dimitrova, Michaela Pudeva, Martina Karaivanova, Nelly Sandeva, Pavlina Kopano, Lilia Evtimova, Tsveta Petrova, Тina Zlatina, Tatiana Karamalakova, Veska Abad, Veselka Nikolova;
Colombia: Miriam Londono;
Finland: Anna - Maija Bergman;
France: Bruno David, Florence Pinson-Ynden;
Germany: Elinor Euler, Elke Lueckener, Fides Linien, Gesa Reuter, Irene Rammensee, Josephine Tabbert, Larrisa Nod, Mari Schirrmacher – Meitz, Peter Schlangenbader, Renate Schweizer, Verena Friedrich, Wilhelm Schramm;
Hungary: Ester Bornemisza;
Israel: Josefa Gal, Laura Behar;
Indonesia: Djoko Susillo, Ivan Sagitto, Ivan Efendi, Bouttet Carthagasa, Visigyatno, Sighit Santosa, Surya Viravan, Yudi Sulisito, Mohammed Yusuf, Mariannto, Emte Muhammad Tufik, Restu Ratnaningtyas, Isur Surosso and Eunike Nugroho, Ewduin Pradipta, Krisna Murti;
Japan: Kakuko Ishii, Atsumi Murata, Nobuko Ueda, Noriko Amano, Tsuruko Tanikawa, Wakako Ishisone, Sumie Matsura, Kenji Sato, Mitsue Ito, Shoko Fukuda, Ioshiaki Kajikawa, Yuki Tsubuyama, Tsuruko Takinawa, Katsuhiro Ito, Kazuyoshi Morita, Nobuyoshi Kano;
Lithuania: Jura Vaskevichiute;
Mexico: Josefina Temin;
Norway: Hanne Frey Huso;
The Netherlands: Marielle van den Bergh;
Poland: Magdalena Klezynska, Miroslawa Truchta-Nowicka, Monika Mazurkiewicz;
Romania: Adriana Lucaciu;
Russia: Irina Jablochkina;
Slovenia: Metka Pepelnak;
Scotland: Charmian Pollok, Jenny Smith;
Switzerland: Elisabeth Jobin-Sanglard, Gerda Ritzman, Lilo Shaer, Marie-Louise Glinz;
UK: Josephine Coy, Jane Walker;
USA: Marie Noorani;


Over 120 artists participated in the Paper Art Academy, Exchange and Guest Exhibitions, Art in Urban Environment, Theatre and Film, Green Architecture and Accompanying Events sections.

Support

Amateras Foundation is sincerely grateful to all institutions, sponsors, spaces and media partners who supported Sofia Paper Art Fest 2019!


Institutions:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bulgaria
Sofia Municipality
Embassy of Bulgaria in Japan
Embassy of Japan in Bulgaria
Embassy of Argentina in Bulgaria
Embassy of Brazil in Bulgaria
Embassy of Indonesia in Bulgaria
Munakata Municipality, Japan
Mendosa Municipality, Argentina
Japanese Foundation


Museums and Galleries:
Regional History Museum – Sofia
National Palace of Culture
City Centre La Park, Mendosa, Argentina
Cultural Centre YURIX, Munakata, Japan
CA Gallery, Munakata, Japan
Global Arena, Munakata, Japan
Mazda Gallery
One Gallery
San Stefano Gallery


Associations:
IAPMA – US
NEXUS – Japan


Bulgarian Festivals Association
JSEEBA – Japanese-Southwest Business Association
Bulgarians Association, Argentina
Comunication Fronteress, France


Educational Institutions:
Mendosa National University, Argentina
Fengxian University for Design, Shanghai, China
St. St. Cyril and Methodius Foundation
18th SOU William Gladstone
138th Prof. Georgi Zlatarski School
SU Vassil Levski, Rousse


Private Companies:
Mazda
Number ONE
JSEEBA


Media Partners:
Bulgarian News Agency
Bulgarian National Television
BTV
TV1
Bulgarian National Radio
JazzFM
Darik Radio
BG Radio
My Bulgaria Radio, Argentina
Osem Magazine
Sofia Live
Europe TV
Aktualno.com
Vij Mag
Peika.bg