News - China, Shanghai, Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria

The 5th Hangzhou Triennial of Fiber Art was inaugurated on September 23, 2025 in the capital of Zhejiang province under the theme “Re-Constellations”. Among its curators is the Bulgarian artist Assadour Markarov, a professor at the Department of Fiber Art at the China Academy of Art (CAA) in Hangzhou. The event features 45 artists from 17 countries, including the Bulgarian artist Gergana Tabakova with her work “Shifting Horizons”.

The cultural exchange between Bulgaria and China in the field of fiber art has spun for nearly four decades, a significance highlighted by the CAA President Mr. Yu Xuhong during the opening ceremony. He noted that around 1985, the distinguished Bulgarian artist Maryn Varbanov initiated a new chapter in experimental art at the CAA and as a result the Varbanov Tapestry Art Research Centre was established at the academy in 1986. Under the Bulgarian master’s guidance his Chinese students, including prominent artists such as Shi Hui, Zhu Wei, Gu Wenda, and Liang Shaoji created groundbreaking artworks, carrying forward Varbanov’s legacy. In 1989, the Varbanov Tapestry Art Research Centre was recognized by the Chinese Ministry of Culture as the nation’s first institution dedicated to teaching and creation in the field of contemporary fiber art.

In 2003, the Centre merged with the CAA’s Department of Sculpture to form the Fiber and Space Art Studio, integrating fiber art directly with plastic arts and transforming it from a singular art form into a comprehensive field of artistic expression. Since 2013, the Hangzhou Triennial of Fiber Art has continued to embody Varbanov’s philosophical vision of “weaving the world”, focusing on the unique realm of fiber and significantly expanding the boundaries and depth of sculptural art, showcasing Hangzhou’s distinctive artistic perspective.    

The works of the 5th Hangzhou Triennial of Fiber Art are displayed at the Zhejiang Art Museum and open to the public until November 2, 2025.