Bulgarian participants in the “European Attitude” exhibition in Shanghai
The museum of contemporary art “Zendai” in Shanghai, China presents the “European Attitude” exhibition from 23 February till 16 March 2008. It introduces the works of 21 artists from 12 European countries. The idea of two Europeans and a Chinese curator is to provoke a debate on the role of artists in the development of contemporary society. The Chinese audience can see different variations on the main motives behind the work of the contemporary artist working in the European context. The selection made by the curators is a form of journey through the utopias of the totalitarian regimes or the violence of commercial design and pseudo-spirituality.
The Bulgarian artists Nina Kovacheva and Valentin Stefanov presented their video installation “Game for two hands and black” (2006) (on the picture) – and the “Desire and resistance determine motion”(2007) video. The participation in the “European Attitude” exhibition is supported by the Institute for Culture .
“Game for two hands and black” is a video installation that transforms two windows in symmetrical screens. The spectator is attracted by the moving images created by two hands – female and male. The scale of the hands transforms the scale of the building which becomes part of the production. The specific lightening personalizes the hands. They touch and gradually their movements become aggressive. They fight, love and hate each other while becoming darker and covered in black material till they finally disappear in the black background
At the opening of the exhibition the organizers underlined that this was one of the largest displays of contemporary European art at the prestigious Shanghai museum.
Nina Kovacheva and Valentin Stefanov live and work in Paris. In 2002 they won the UNSECO prize for promoting art in Paris. They have participated in several popular biennials and they works displayed in Paris, New York, Warsaw, Munich.