Bulgarian born VELA lives and works in Berlin since 1998.
For a long time I enjoyed working with steel – a deceptively strong material, with a hidden high sensitivity and immediate reaction to any change in the surrounding environment. Like the faces and social formulas we keep upright in our daily lives, steel appears to be hard and all-withstanding on the outside, but any change in temperature or a sound wave would effect it deeply in its core. The strongest appearing construction may collapse, if the right rhythm and warmth touches its heart.
The concept of a Cabinet of Curiosities has always fascinated me. As a child, before I knew it existed, my friends and I were playing the game of “televisions” – each one would collect small beautiful and exciting tidbits, will then dig a small hole in the ground, arrange them inside, cover the opening with a piece of brocken glass, conceal it with some dirt and then put a sign, known only amongst us. Whenever we found each others signs, we could clear off the dirt and see the treasures our friends have displayed behind the glass…
Through out life, whenever I found, felt or learned something emotionally charged, I did not know how to share it, my inner array of “televisions” grew, becoming a full blown cabinet of curiosities.
And then the wonder of social media happened – each persons digital “televisions”, hidden behind their handles, ready for their friends to explore, all boxed, everyone disconnected while observing each other, not able to directly connect emotionally.
In my current work, the series “The Back Of The Cabinet”, I leave the zone of curiosity and explore all other emotions, the ones we usually keep in a separate gallery, just for ones self, the “televisions” that are so well hidden, that we sometimes forget that we have them.
Here I combine steel with worbla, another deceptive material, swinging between hardness and softness, depending on temperature. Worbla strongly resembles dried skin, stretched over the metal of the bone-like structure. From this inner scaffolding, which we have build to keep upright our facades, weird organics flourish, ofter tearing through the skin, revealing the inner struggle.
2025
– Vulvae – group exhibition, iRRländ2, München
– Kunst braucht (Frei-)Raum! – group exhibition, gallery Neurotitan, Berlin
2024
– Werk.Statt.Schau, group exhibition, Berlin
2023
– KAI & Friends – group exhibition, Berlin
– HofFest group exhibition, Haus Schwarzenberg
2022
– UP DOWN UP group exhibition, Haus Schwarzenberg
2020
– Lauschen Statt Rauschen group exhibition, Berlin
2019
– Open Air group exhibition, Haus Schwarzenberg
– „Plug“ (Gallery Weekend) group exhibition, Raketa Studio, Berlin
– ADM Solidarity Festival, group exhibition, Urban Spree, Berlin
2017
– Installation of kinetic sculptural composition BOB & mini BOB, Gonzerath
– Production and public presentation of the privately commissioned kinetic sculpture “BOB” in Werk.Statt.44
– Rumble in The Jungle group exhibition, Berlin
2016
– Werk.Statt.Schau V group exhibition, Berlin
2015
– Beton.Stahl.Taube group exhibition, Berlin
– Yes, We’re Open! group exhibition, Berlin
2014
– Werk.Statt.Schau III, group exhibition, Berlin
– HofFest group exhibition, Haus Schwarzenberg
– What If… group exhibition, GroundSwell Gallery, Denver, USA
2013
– WestTurm group exhibition, Teufelsberg
– HofFest group exhibition Haus Schwarzenberg, Berlin
2010-2012
– Diverse stage sets and performances in KULE, Berlin
– „20 Years KULE“ group exhibition & performance, Berlin
– Artist residency in Kunst Haus KULE, Berlin
2007-2008
– Stage performances & concerts with “Electric Shepherds”
2002
– Production and installation of „Turning Cow“ sculpture, Cowparade London, Museum of Childhood London, UK
– „Stazi HQ“ photography, part of the permanent exhibition in Urbis Museum,Manchester, UK
1998-2010
– Stage deco and printed material for the Dangerous Drums events
1989-1998
– Diverse performances, group exhibitions and events in Sofia, BG
Friends & Family:
DJ Vela
Werk.Statt.44
KAI
Nienke Kaboom
Sandra Dick
Eschschloraque
Neurotitan
Haus Schwarzenberg
Monsterkabinet
SR & Company
All artwork on this website is created by VELA. Photos, videos and texts are credited to the autors, whenever applicable.
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